UK Events & Venues Sector Pays Up: Well Above National Average in 2025

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 115
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 71.4/100
• UK average: 50.0/100
• Events & Venues average above UK average: 21.4 points
• Top 5 Payers Score: 100/100
• Bottom 5 Payers Range: 17.3/100 to 28.5/100

What Stands Out

The Events & Venues sector significantly outperforms the UK average for payment practices, with an average score of 71.4, a notable 21.4 points higher than the national benchmark. While the best payers achieved perfect scores, the disparity highlights potential issues for smaller suppliers dealing with the bottom-ranked companies; you can use this late payment calculator to estimate the cost of those delays.

Best Payers

1. I & A RESTAURANTS LTD - 100/100
2. BANBURY HEATH LIMITED - 100/100
3. KL VENTURES LIMITED - 100/100
4. THIRD STATE PIZZA COMPANY LIMITED - 100/100
5. D.P.K. FOODS LTD. - 100/100

Worst Payers

1. UNIQUE PUB PROPERTIES LIMITED - 17.3/100
2. JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS GB LTD - 21/100
3. DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES LIMITED - 22.6/100
4. EI GROUP LIMITED - 27.5/100
5. THE CONNAUGHT HOTEL LIMITED - 28.5/100

Regional Patterns

There's a considerable spread in regional performance, with Welsh companies leading the way at 92.5, while the East of England lags at 77.5; note that this data may not be fully representative due to the low sample size in regions like Wales and the North East (two companies apiece), meaning that the averages are more strongly influenced by individual extreme high or low scores.

The Events & Venues sector’s payment practices are demonstrably better than the UK average, but the near 60-point difference between the highest and lowest performers suggests some suppliers still face considerable payment risk.

2025: The Story

The Events And Venues sector saw a modest but positive shift in payment practices in 2025, with the average score improving by 1.7 points to 71.4/100 from 69.7/100 in 2024. A notable trend was the strong improvement from motorway service operators; Welcome Break Services Limited surged by an impressive 23.2 points to 68.9/100, complemented by Welcome Break Limited's rise of 12.7 points to 62.9/100. This suggests focused efforts on improving supplier relationships within this sub-sector.

However, not all news was good, with Jacobs Douwe Egberts GB Ltd's score plummeting by 7.6 points to a concerning 21.0/100, marking a significant step backward. While the average improved, the sector's data pool also saw significant churn, with 43 companies leaving and high-scoring new entrants like Bansols Beta Limited (100.0/100) joining, potentially contributing to the overall rise. Suppliers should continue to monitor individual client scores closely, especially given the sector's evolving composition and the wide divergence in payment behaviour.