Night time hospitality back to pre-pandemic levels

The average consumer spend, frequency and duration of nights out remains robust, according to new research that has looked into nightlife activity across the UK.

In spite of the devastating impact of Covid-19, including the closure of nightclubs for 16 months, the British public appetite for nights is as high as ever, according to the latest REKOM Night Index.

People are spending £68.03 when on a night out, with the night lasting 4 hours and 17 minutes on average, which is very similar to the results seen from the Index in 2019.

Reassuringly for pubs, bars and clubs, it shows that people are going out exactly as often as they did pre-pandemic. 

Following the extended periods of Covid-19-related restrictions on clubs and bars, two thirds (66.3%) of those polled said they are keen to go out more to those venues that were shut for a long period because of the pandemic. This figure jumps to more than 80% among 18- to 21-year-olds.

More than a third (33.4%) of Brits feel that they were unfairly restricted from going out during Covid-19.

Commissioned by REKOM UK, the UK’s largest nightclub and late-night bar operator, the REKOM Night Index is a quarterly report that tracks consumer habits relating to the UK’s night time economy. REKOM UK was created in 2020 when The Deltic Group was acquired by the REKOM Group, Europe’s leading nightlife group.

Other highlights from the report include:

• Regarding spend breakdown on a night out, the amount spent on pre-drinks increased very slightly on March 2019 figures, to £11.42 (from £11.31)
• Spend on in-venue drinks increased to £19.56 (March 2019: £19.25)
• Spend on food decreased most, by 3.1%, to £15.70
• 44.4% say they are much more enthusiastic about going out to venues like clubs and festivals because they missed out on this during the Covid-19 pandemic
• This rises to 60.7% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 47.4% of 25- to 34-year-olds
• 68.0% said that their priorities, considerations and behaviours when going on a late night out have changed since the pandemic
• Respondents said that the largest influence on a night out was distance from home (20.4%)
  • 19.0% said type of music was most important, and 17.6% said affordable pricing
  • Women are more cost conscious, with 18.7% agreeing that this is the most important factor compared to 16.2% of men.

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