Christie & Co report reveals increase in pub transaction activity and corporate deals
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has today launched its annual Business Outlook report, 'Business Outlook 2025', which reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2024 and forecasts what 2025 might bring across the industries in which Christie & Co operates, including the pub sector.
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The report acknowledges that while the UK hospitality sector continues to face headwinds, the market remained dynamic in 2024, with an increased level of transactional activity assisted by reasonable trading conditions. The volume of deals agreed, exchanges and completed transactions were all up compared to 2023, with 36% more deals completed by Christie & Co in 2024 than the previous year.
Christie & Co's insights reveal several key trends, including strong demand for assets under £600,000 and for prime properties, with the mid-market proving to be more challenging. Data also reveals that corporate buyers were responsible for much activity, particularly tenanted pub companies both as sellers and buyers. 88% of pubs sold were for continued use, demonstrating the sector’s resilience and the important role of pubs in communities across the UK.
Whilst the sentiment of operators was cautiously optimistic at the start of 2024, this was impacted by the government’s Autumn Budget announcement of rises in employer’s National Insurance contributions and National Living and Minimum Wage, and that business rates relief will be cut. Consequently, prices remain broadly flat, with Christie & Co reporting a marginal increase of +0.7% in the price index.
The report outlines Christie & Co's market predictions for the year ahead, which are:
- We will continue to see an increase in transactional volumes
- The market will remain polarised, with strong demand for assets sub £600,000 and at the prime end of the market
- We will see a continued increase in M&A activity
- Operational challenges for pub owners and operators will continue
- Emerging signs of distress will encourage opportunistic buyers
Stephen Owens, Managing Director of Pubs & Restaurants at Christie & Co comments: “Whilst there continues to be operational headwinds in the pub sector, we are encouraged by the fact that transactional volumes have increased and the number of pubs sold which continue to trade as pubs remains high. This demonstrates that buyers still see the resilience and long-term future of the sector, however pricing remains paramount as operators look to successfully navigate the immediate trading environment.”
Click here to read the full report: https://www.christie.com/news-resources/business-outlook-2025/pubs/
For further information on this press release, contact:
Jasmine Davis, Corporate Communications Manager
P: 07561 115179
E: jasmine.davis@christie.com
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