Coronavirus: Pub and restaurant industry ‘getting worse by the day’, Wagamama owner warns

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy One of the UK’s largest operators of pubs and restaurants has said sales are “getting worse by the day” as others in the industry warned the coronavirus was having a devastating impact on trade. The Restaurant Group, which owns Frankie & Benny’s and Wagamama, said spending had plunged 12.5 per cent in the past two weeks. The Restaurant Group said in a statement to investors: “In particular, our concessions business has been significantly impacted, with like-for-like sales down 21.7 per cent and getting worse by the day, given international travel bans.” TRG forecasts like-for-like sales will drop 45 per cent in the first half of this year. Marston’s warned that while it was not yet feeling the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak, government advice to avoid eating or drinking out was bound to “significantly lower sales in the coming weeks”.