Christie & Co publishes Leisure Market Review 2026

Christie Group plc (CTG.L) reports that its agency and advisory business, Christie & Co, has published its Leisure Market Review 2026, which provides insight into transaction activity, buyer demand, tourism trends, investment appetite, and trading conditions across the UK's leisure sector.

The report illustrates a significant increase in transaction activity, with Christie & Co advising on the sale of 125% more leisure businesses in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The review also concludes that average deal completion times also reduced by 28% between 2021 and H1 2026, reflecting improving transaction efficiency.

Valuation activity also remained strong, with Christie & Co undertaking more than 100 leisure business valuations in the first half of the year, with a combined asset value of over £390 million. Holiday parks were one of the most active leisure asset in terms of valuation activity, with Christie & Co advising on or valuing holiday park assets worth more than £346 million between January and September 2026.

Buyer demand also continues to be encouraging. Christie & Co recorded more than 840 new buyer registrations in the first six months of the year, increasing its database of registered leisure buyers to over 13,000. The review indicates continued acquisitive demand from established multi-site operators, particularly across garden centre, marina and holiday park sectors. Within the garden centre sector, Christie & Co advised on the sale of businesses with a combined value exceeding £18 million in H1 2026.

The report also highlights the growing importance of diversification across the leisure sector, with operators increasingly developing additional income streams to enhance profitability and resilience. Holiday parks are investing in food and beverage, wellness facilities and other ancillary activities, whilst marinas and garden centres are expanding their offerings to attract customers and increase spending. Businesses which successfully combine leisure, hospitality and retail elements are often best placed to maximise customer spend and also attract both buyers and investors.

The review highlights continued opportunities across the wider Group's services. Christie Finance reports improved lender appetite for established leisure businesses, supporting acquisition and refinancing activity, whilst Christie Insurance has seen greater insurer competition for well-managed leisure businesses.

The report concludes by pointing to a positive outlook for the sector, supported by continued consumer demand for leisure experiences, favourable domestic tourism trends and sustained investor interest and high-quality assets.

https://www.christie.com/sectors/leisure/market-review/

Dan Prickett, Chief Executive of Christie Group plc, comments: "Our latest Leisure Market Review demonstrates the strong momentum across the sector, with Christie & Co advising on 125% more business sales in the first half of 2026, and undertaking valuations of assets worth over £390 million. The combination of increased transaction activity, strong buyer demand and continued investment in the sector highlights the opportunities for Christie & Co and our wider Group businesses to support clients across the transaction lifecycle."

Christie Group plc

Dan Prickett 07885 813101

Chief Executive

Simon Hawkins 07767 354366

Chief Financial Officer

Shore Capital

Patrick Castle 020 7408 4090

Nominated Advisor and Broker

Hudson Sandler

Alex Brennan / Emily Brooker 020 7796 4133/christiegroup@hudsonsandler.com

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