Staycation Brits to pack pubs and restaurants over Easter weekend

London – 12th April 2017 – Pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK could rake in more than £280 million* in card spend over the coming days, as Brits head out for long lunches and trips to the pub this Easter.

According to the latest data from payments processor Worldpay, hospitality sector takings could be up by as much as 15%** this weekend compared to the average, making the Easter bank holiday one of the most important periods of the year for the sector.

Competition for spaces in pub gardens will be fiercest in traditional tourist hotspots. Bars and restaurants in Blackpool can expect to be 36%** busier than normal over the four day weekend, while in Cornwall takings across the hospitality sector could be up by as much as 39%** compared to the seasonal average. And if you’re thinking about heading to your favourite restaurant in Pembrokeshire this weekend, then have a plan B in place; Worldpay data suggests pubs and bars in the region will be as much as 47%** busier than normal over Easter.

Commenting on the data, James Frost, UK CMO, Worldpay, said: “The weakness of the pound against currencies like the euro could well present a silver lining for hospitality business owners this Easter. According to one recent survey 80%*** of Britons are concerned about holidaying in post-Brexit Europe, with many choosing to stay closer to home. This could mean a bumper weekend for small business owners in traditional UK tourist hotspots. Those that are well prepared for the influx will stand to benefit the most.

“Hospitality business owners will need to be at the top of their game to ensure they’re able to keep customers happy even at the busiest times. Technologies like contactless payments can really help take the pressure off staff during peak periods, speeding up service and reducing queues.”

For those planning a weekend getaway over Easter, Worldpay has published a list of the top ten tourist spots where pubs and restaurants will be busiest:

The Great British Staycation – Which regions see the biggest uplift in hospitality spend compared to average over the Easter weekend?

• Pembrokeshire +47%**
• Causeway coast +40%**
• Argyll & Bute +40%**
• Cornwall +39%**
• Scarborough +38%**
• Suffolk coast +37%**
• Weymouth +37%**
• Blackpool +36%**
• South Lakeland +35%**
• New Forest +30%**

About the data
*Calculation is based on sales processed on Easter weekend 2016 (Fri 25th - Mon 28th March), using total card transactions processed by Worldpay in pubs and restaurants. Total is based on the assumption that total sales processed by Worldpay in March 2016 equate to 40% of total card transactions over that period.

*** Calculation is based on an analysis of consumer spending patterns in UK towns and cities over Easter weekend 2016 (Fri 25th - Mon 28th March), compared to that during the same period Fri 18th - Mon 21st March, Fri 1st - Mon 4th April.

*** Source: Brits fear higher prices, more red tape and unfriendly locals post-Brexit

About Worldpay
Worldpay is a leading payments company with global reach. We provide an extensive range of technology-led payment products and services to around 400,000 customers, enabling their businesses to grow and prosper. We manage the increasing complexity of the payments landscape for our customers, allowing them to accept the widest range of payment types around the world. Using our network and technology, we are able to process payments from geographies covering 99% of global GDP, across 146 countries and 126 currencies. We help our customers to accept more than 300 different payment types.

Worldpay UK has more than 40% market share in the UK and helps businesses of all sizes sell more to their customers by accepting card payments in-store, online, via mail or telephone, and on the move.

www.worldpay.com/uk

For more information, please contact:

Suraj Mashru, Golin: T + 44 (0) 20 7067 0494
Angela Woodward, Worldpay: T +44 (0)203 664 2605