Drinking out spend up 5% since April

The overall the average British household spent £207 on out of home leisure in May; a £7, or 3%, decrease year-on-year, but Greene King explained this decline is likely to have been impacted by half-term falling in June, and was driven exclusively by a £8, or 10%, fall in Other Leisure spending.

Key highlights:​

• The longstanding stability of spending on drinking out was evident once more in May, increasing  £1 (2%) year-on-year and £2 (5%) month-on-month​
• The average British household spent £207 on out of home leisure in May, a £7 (3%) decrease year-on-year and a £2 (1%) increase on the previous month​
• Other leisure’s share decreased by 3% in May compared to the previous month, while eating out’s share decreased by 1%​
• The impact of the Easter school holidays in April saw households with kids reduce spending by £30 (12%) month-on-month, while households without kids increased spending by £13 (7%)​
• Other leisure spending on outdoor activities, such as live sports and other live events, saw smalls increases due to the slowly improving weather and start of festival season​

The study also found that, despite on-going economic and political uncertainty surrounding Britain’s membership of the European Union, British households are optimistic about their holiday plans for the rest of the year, with 71% of adults expecting to take at least one holiday between now and the end of 2016.

Most Britons expect to take a ‘staycation’ during the period, continuing a trend popular following the economic crisis.

Around 85% of British households expect to take at least one domestic holiday between now and the end of the year, a 3% increase on the same figure captured in 2015.

Eating out is the activity people are looking forward to most, with 87% of those taking a staycation stating they plan to dine out during their trip. 

Drinking out is the second most popular activity, with 69% overall saying they’ll enjoy a drink while on their break.

Rob Rees, Greene King group marketing director said: “On the eve of a momentous decision for the British public, this month’s Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker suggests that many households are looking forward to enjoying some well-earned holidays post Referendum.

"Meanwhile, total leisure spending in May has fallen compared with the same period last year, driven mostly by a sizeable reduction in spending on Other Leisure activities.”