Hardy Brits drinking in cold boost Revolution

THE Australian boss of Revolution Bars said British willingness to sit outside in the cold was ‘unbelievable’.

Rob Pitcher said hardy drinkers had rescued the business after outdoor reopening on April 12.

Revolution, which has 66 bars, has been operating at 15pc of its total capacity for the past four weeks, but reported 48pc of pre-pandemic sales for the period.

The figures, ahead of the reopening of indoor hospitality from Monday, show the extraordinary demand for eating and drinking out.

The chain demanded Boris Johnson accelerate out of lockdown and ditch social distancing restrictions.

Pitcher said: ‘It seems absolutely ludicrous that we’re going to be able to hug people, but you can’t stand at a bar and order a drink. Data is telling us we should be moving faster. That means we can get team members back to work and start repaying the national debt.’

Revolution sales fell 73.3pc to £21.6m in the six months to December 26. From Monday, it will only be able to take half the customers it could pre-pandemic.

Separately, City Pub Group, which announced full-year results, backed a steady course out of lockdown. Chief executive Clive Watson said: ‘There’s no medals for jumping the gun. We don’t want another lockdown.’

Business has been ‘encouraging’, with its 24 pubs which can open outdoors trading at 77pc of 2019 levels. But revenue fell 57pc to £25.8m in the year to December 27, and a loss of £5.1m, compared to a profit of £5.3m the year before.