Marks – many of our clubs are pre-sold out for reopening, nine in ten young Brits planning to visit club or bar once restrictions lift: Peter Marks, chief executive of Rekom UK, the UK’s largest nightclub operator, has told Propel the company has already pre-sold out at many of its sites during the first week of reopening next week and it is also expecting the trading environment to be split into three groups. Marks said: “The first group will be those who want to go out as soon as possible. The second will be what I call the reserve bench – those that are a bit more tentative and may wait a few more weeks to venture out. The final group will be those people who won’t want to come out for a while, maybe even a year, until they feel completely safe.” Marks said the company was excited about the prospect of reopening after 17 months of being closed. He added: “We will be cautious at first, hence we are not putting on any events for the first couple of weeks, so our staff and customers can get used to each other again. We will be making sure that we highlight our safety guidelines and, in particular, how well ventilated our clubs are – with fresh air being pumped in every five minutes.” Marks had already told Propel the business will not be asking customers for covid certification as urged by the government because the majority of its clientele would not be fully vaccinated. He was speaking after the group’s latest Night Index found that more than nine out of ten young Brits plan to hit a bar or club once restrictions are lifted next Monday (19 July). Of the 94.3% of 18 to 30-year-olds who want to get back to such hospitality sites, a fifth (20.7%) want to return as soon as possible while more than half will return within a month of reopening. The index also found half of all respondents (50.2%) said they would feel comfortable going to a club that operates in line with government guidance, with a further 18.8% not yet sure and 15.9% awaiting further guidance. The 24 to 26-year-old group drove this majority view as 57.6% said they would feel comfortable compared to just 12.7% saying they wouldn’t. In addition to where friends are going (39.2%) and pricing (39.3%), 30.4% said covid-19 safety restrictions are one of the most important factors in their decision-making. When asked where they anticipate spending the most money once all venues are open, more than a third (37.1%) said a bar or club, 29% the pub and 27% the cinema. The survey also found men plan to spend more than women (£70.70 versus £62.78) on a night out, which includes pre-drinks, food, transport, entry fee and drinks in venue. Marks said: “It is clear there is a high demand for nightclubs to reopen again and that young people are excited to enjoy a night out after all this time. The report shows consumers are keen to take a responsible approach and will take covid-19 safety precautions into consideration when planning a night out.”

Spending at bars and pubs grows in June for first time since September, restaurants show early signs of recovery: Spending at bars and pubs rose 38.1% in June versus 2019 levels – the first growth since September 2020 – as the nation flocked to pubs and beer gardens to enjoy the weather and watch key sporting events, according to research from Barclaycard. The trend looks likely to continue as more than two fifths (41%) of Brits said fixtures taking place over the next few weeks, including the Tokyo Olympics, will increase their spending as they socialise with friends and family. As more gatherings took place in June, ordering takeaways and fast food remained in high demand, recording a 146% surge in online spend compared with the same month in 2019. Restaurants also showed early signs of recovery, experiencing a relatively low fall in growth of 8.4% when compared with the 74.4% and 53.2% declines recorded in April and May respectively. This trend looks set to continue over the summer as restrictions ease, with consumer confidence data finding 22% of Brits upped their spending on meals and drinks out on sunnier days. There were also glimmers of hope for the UK travel industry; the hotels, resorts and accommodation category saw its first growth (5.4%) since pre-pandemic times, as Brits continued to holiday in the UK. Overall, consumer spending grew 11.1% compared with the same period in 2019 as the warmer weather, easing of restrictions and major sporting events saw more Brits socialise and set off on staycations. Non-essential spending rose 9.4% – the largest growth since the onset of covid-19. This was boosted by the eating and drinking category, which grew 36.7% compared with the same period in 2019, while also representing a strong month-on-month uplift (2.5%). Entertainment, which includes cinemas, bowling alleys and golf courses, also showed signs of recovery, with just a 1.7% decline – a noticeable improvement on the 28.6% drop last month. The data showed consumers aged 65 and over have been driving this improvement, with their spending increasing 4.7% compared with 2019. Confidence in household finances and the UK economy has also held up at 70% and 36% respectively, with more than half (55%) of those feeling optimistic about the economy citing the vaccine rollout as the main reason for their positive outlook.