The ONS counted 105,334 restaurant, cafe, takeaway and mobile food businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in 2024, and 36,087 pubs and bars. Both groups spend roughly half of turnover on food, drink and other bought-in costs, and about a third on staff.
| 2024 | Restaurants, cafes and takeaways | Pubs and bars |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses (VAT or PAYE registered) | 105,334 | 36,087 |
| Total turnover | £55.6bn | £26.8bn |
| Average turnover per business | £528,000 | £744,000 |
| Staff costs, % of turnover | 33.7% | 32.5% |
| Bought-in goods and services, % of turnover | 52.2% | 53.0% |
| Left after staff and bought-in costs, % of turnover | 14.1% | 14.5% |
Source: ONS Annual Business Survey, 2024 results (published 26 May 2026). It covers businesses registered for VAT or PAYE, so the smallest sole traders are not included. Averages are pulled up by the largest firms. For sole traders and partnerships, the owners’ own pay is not in staff costs: it comes out of what is left.
Restaurants, cafes and takeaways: turnover rose 32% between 2019 and 2024, against a 24% rise in consumer prices, so it grew in real terms. The number of businesses rose 18%. Staff costs went from 29.1% to 33.7% of turnover, and what was left after staff and bought-in costs went from 20.0% to 14.1%.
Pubs and bars: turnover rose 15% between 2019 and 2024, against a 24% rise in consumer prices, so it fell behind inflation. The number of businesses fell 4%. Staff costs went from 26.0% to 32.5% of turnover, and what was left after staff and bought-in costs went from 20.9% to 14.5%.
For both restaurants and pubs, staff costs now take a noticeably bigger share of turnover than in 2019, and the share left after costs has shrunk.
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