So much for Dry January – bookings at UK bars rise 60%

There may still be 10 days left of the month, but it seems Dry January is already a thing of the past for many of Britain’s drinkers.

Bars are enjoying an unusually strong January with bookings up by 60% compared to last year, according to Haggerston-based DesignMyNight.

The company’s data, based on bookings made through their Collins software, which is used by venues including Dirty Martini, the London Cocktail Club and Fuller’s pubs, shows for many just one week off the sauce was enough, as 55% of January’s bookings so far came in the second week of the month.

There was also evidence that a many people had no intention of enduring 31 days of abstinence – 30% of January’s reservations were registered in December.

“Even before the popularity of Dry January, bars are always concerned about the noticeable negative effect the start of the year has on their businesses after the Christmas excess,” said DesignMyNight founder Nick Telson.