Although more people went out at least once a week from May to July – the spring and early summer periods – compared to the previous quarter, the average spend was £53.63, down from £55.56.
Pubs remain the most popular night out and the place where more than a quarter spend the most money.
Clubs saw a 3% increase in activity during the quarter and bars a 4% increase.
Despite a fall in overall spend, the average spent on drinks rose 4% to £17.99.
Encouraging trend
Deltic chief executive Peter Marks said: “Although overall spend has declined, it is encouraging to see people opting to spend more on drinks in venues rather than on pre-drinks.”
He put the fall in overall spend down to people eating lighter meals during the sunnier and dryer months.
The research also claims that the leisure industry is a great place to develop a career and acquire work experience. Almost three quarters acquired more skills than they were expecting while more than a third believe there are fewer barriers to promotion than in other industries, with more career development opportunities than they were expecting.
With almost 70% entering the sector between the ages of 16 and 20, and staying an average of four years, it is perhaps unsurprising that almost half want to earn money when at school or college, closely followed by those who like the hours and those who see it as a fun and sociable environment in which to work.
Benefits of the industry
Just under 12% choose to work in the industry because they believe it will equip them with key skills, yet nearly three quarters later find that it has.
Four out of five said they developed communication skills through working in the industry and three quarters felt they learnt how to work under pressure while almost as many learnt how to deal with difficult situations.
In addition, more than 65% learnt how to multi-task, just under 64% how to work with different people, and almost the same number how to work effectively in a team.
Marks said it was great to see that so many people have felt the benefits of working in the industry and the role it plays in equipping people with vital skills.
Yet he admitted the disparity between the perceptions and reality of having a career in the industry meant more work had to be done to educate people about the opportunities on offer.
Reality bucks perceptions
Contrary to general perceptions, the research found that more than:
• 36% believe there are fewer barriers to promotion than in other industries
• 34% found there were more training opportunities than they were expecting; and more career development opportunities
• 60% found it was a more sociable environment than they were expecting
• 62% said it was harder work than they expected
• 45% said it is a more professionally run environment than they were expecting
• 60% of those that worked in the industry would recommend it to young people to develop essential work experience
Researchers surveyed 2,591 people aged 18 and over, across the UK. This included more than 500 that have worked in the late-night leisure industry.
Deltic operates 57 clubs and bars throughout the UK.