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.”