Banking firm Revolut analysed the data of its 4,000 customers in Worcester in the seven days to May 23 as they sat down inside restaurants and cafes for the first time this year.
Spending in Worcester was still 24 per cent below a normal week in February 2020 prior to the pandemic but that compared well with a larger average fall of 41 per cent across the UK.
Diners spent 49 per cent more than they did the previous week when only outdoor dining was permitted.
The Revolut data also showed that spending on cultural activities, such as cinema trips, between May 17-23 was down 68 per cent on average compared with a normal pre-pandemic week in Britain. Again, Worcester fared better with spending down 47 per cent.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said:
“Current restrictions severely reduce venue capacity, so restaurants’ ability to make money is constrained to well below pre-Covid levels.
“Many restaurants have been permanently lost as a result of the pandemic and there are others that, after months of closure and trading restrictions, have not yet reopened.
“A return to unrestricted trading on June 21 is critical and means hospitality businesses will come off life support and be viable for the first time in almost 16 months, and enable companies to bring more staff back.”
Source: Worcester News