Good weather and Easter weekend boost leisure spend for April

Analysts said the growth in spending outside the South East was particularly eye-catching.

Drinking out spend by the average British household was at its highest since Christmas in April at almost £47 representing growth of 17% against March’s figure. In April spend levels were up more than £15 against March and £24 against January’s low.

Drinking out spend now accounts for 22% of leisure spending – on a par with its peak in December – while eating out accounted for 39%.

Total household leisure spend in April stood at £5.5bn, while spending by the average household on leisure grew quicker in the rest of Britain than in London and the South East, increasing by £18 and £8 respectively.

Family spend​

The average British household increased spend by 12% on eating out to £84.25 against March, this activity has now seen consistent growth in spend for four months running.

Households with kids increased spend on eating out in April considerably more than households without kids, (£17 and £7 respectively), influenced by presence of the Easter holidays.

The research found that households with kids on average increased drinking out spend by £6 in April to £44.30 against March, while households without kids increased spend marginally more at £7 to £47.40 over the same period.

Promising​

Steve Jebson, Greene King’s commercial director, said: “As expected, special occasions through April gave Brits the perfect reason to go out and spend money. Growth in leisure spending was strongest outside London and the South East providing a promising early sign that the improvement in consumer confidence is spreading and that the economic recovery is taking hold throughout Britain.”

Paul Flatter, chief executive of the Trajectory Partnership, said: “The growth in spending from outside the South East really catches the eye this month. Media commentary has focused heavily on the house-price fuelled boom in the South East. But these results support data from other recent surveys, suggesting that recovery is more broadly based, both geographically and by sector. Of course, it is the local picture that really matters. Right now every region has its hotspot and struggling localities moving at very different speeds.”