Pub and bar spending up 30%

Pubs, bars and clubs saw another strong month of trading in July, recording 30.5% growth when compared to July 2019. 

The increase in spend, tracked via data from Barclycard, took place as Brits socialised in beer gardens and returned to nightclubs for evenings out.

Spending on non-essential items also recorded its highest growth since before the first UK lockdown, rising 10.4%. One in four consumers say they have been dipping into their savings to make the most of post-lockdown life – a figure that rises to 39% among 18- to 34-year-olds.

The entertainment industry saw growth for the first time in over 16 months, up 8.1%, as consumers bought tickets to the theatre, cinema and sporting events. This comes as 32% of Brits say they expect to spend more on leisure activities and day trips this summer, and 16% plan to spend more attending shows and events – a welcome sign that further growth may be on the horizon.

Restaurant spending had been improving steadily since restrictions began to ease in March, closing the gap on 2019, but last month there was a dip in spending and the gap widened again to -13.1%.

In contrast, takeaways saw record growth of 72.3% – the highest since before the onset of the pandemic – as friends and families watched events such as the Euros and Wimbledon at home while treating themselves to food deliveries.

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