UK consumers swap booze and cigarettes for hotels and restaurants

16 February 2017 by Katie Pathiaki

UK households are spending more money in restaurants and hotels than on cigarettes and alcohol, according to statistics for the financial year ending March 2016.

The Office for National Statistics' Family Spending Survey revealed that families spend an average of £528.90 a week, which the report claims coincides with a slowdown in consumer confidence.

Weekly, around £45 of that is spent at restaurants, cafes and hotels. Compared to the previous year, this is an increase of £1.80.

It was the first time in five years that such spending had climbed over £45 per week.

Over the same period the average weekly spend on alcohol, tobacco and narcotics fell below £12 for the first time.

Category includes spending on goods and services such as: restaurant and café meals (£17.30); alcoholic drinks consumed away from home (£7.50); takeaway meals (£4.70); accommodation services (£8.90).

For London, the average weekly amount was £21.50, whilst households in Wales had a weekly average amount more than £7.00 lower at £14.20.

The report stated that this may reflect regional price differences, in addition to varying lifestyles.

A total of 11,484 households were selected in 2015/16 for the LCF in Great Britain.

John Wiltshire, deputy operations director of Aqua Restaurant Group which encompasses aqua shard, Hutong and aqua London, said: "Following a really busy December 2016, both aqua shard and Hutong restaurants have continued to be busy in January, both well up on last year. In aqua shard, we serve brunch at the weekends and have recently noticed a large increase in covers that are on par with what we'd normally expect in the final quarter of the year towards Christmas.

"We also had the strongest Chinese New Year we've ever seen in Hutong with many families dining together over the whole weekend. It's an extremely encouraging start to the year - a typically quieter time in restaurants - and lovely to see people enjoying themselves and spending time with friends and family. The rise of families visiting fits the recent trend of consumers opting for moments over material."

Hotel, restaurant and bar spending rises in January >>

Spend in restaurants up by 13% in November, according to Barclaycard >>

Spending in pubs and restaurants softens in December >>

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