SBC News Stay at home World Cup blamed for poor June sales by UK leisure industry

Stay at home World Cup blamed for poor June sales by UK leisure industry

pintfullThe UK Leisure industry has labelled the 2014 Brazil World Cup, as the ‘stay at home World Cup’, as Greene King Leisure Tracker, published a 6% decrease on drinking and eating out.

Leisure Tracker published figures that the UK leisure and hospitality sector had witnessed a decrease of £12 from £192.22 in May to £180.28 in June. Making it the lowest month of leisure spend since Leisure Tracker began monitoring the sector in August 2013.

Steve Jebson, Commercial Director at Greene King, said: “The latest figures on consumer confidence have shown that, while people are feeling more confident about an improving economy, on a personal level they are still feeling cautious about their own financial situation. However, we anticipate that July’s figures are likely to recover, as the weather has generally improved and there are less sporting events on TV.”

Nationwide, UK breweries witnessed a 7% decrease in spend, amounting to £40.19 per customer. Leisure Tracker noted that in London and the South East the decline in drinking spend was more pronounced, with London pubs witnessing a £6 decrease in sales per customer.

The World Cup had a further adverse effect on other leisure activities such as bowling, live events and theatre which saw household spend fall by 15% to £68.27.

Tim Pitts Managing Director of marketing and trend research operators Springwise commented on the decline of sales “Global sporting events such as the World Cup, normally see an uplift in certain leisure trades, the decline makes for interesting reading. TV World Cup scheduling did not help bar trade as matches kicked off at 18hr and 21hr UK time, this factor combined with the rising cost of alcohol purchase in bars and pubs meant that spectators chose to stay at home”.

Pitts further commented “It will be interesting to see if this trend is continued in Russia 2018”