Bedford restaurant spending revealed – with customer spending £ 255.40 Bedford News

Bedford patrons were happy to foot the bill, the numbers show, as restaurant spending spiked when diners were allowed in again.

But the UKHospitality trade body has said ending all social restrictions this summer is key to getting the restaurant industry off its feet, as incomes are still well below pre-pandemic levels.

Banking firm Revolut analyzed data from its 16,000 customers in Bedford in the seven days leading up to May 23, as they sat in restaurants and cafes for the first time this year.

Customers spent 25% more in this period than the week before when only alfresco dining was allowed, with a bill totaling £ 255.40.

However, spending was still 35% lower than a normal week in February of last year before the start of the pandemic.

Despite the reopening, many establishments will not be able to have a full house before June 21, when all legal limits on social contacts must be lifted in England.

However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was too early to say whether the easing of all restrictions would continue as planned.

Kate Nicholls, Managing Director of UKHospitality, said: “Current restrictions drastically reduce room capacity, so restaurants’ ability to make money is well below pre-Covid levels.

“Many restaurants have been permanently lost due to the pandemic and there are others that, after months of closure and trade restrictions, have yet to reopen.

“A return to unrestricted commerce on June 21 is essential and means hospitality businesses will go out of business and become viable for the first time in almost 16 months, and allow businesses to bring in more staff.”

Last week, many venues for indoor entertainment and culture, including museums, theaters and cinemas, reopened – although they are also operating at reduced capacity.

The UK Cinema Association said the opening weekend was the first time there had been more than a million admissions since March 2020.

Phil Clapp, Managing Director, said: ‘Only around three-quarters of UK cinema venues are now open with many smaller venues not being able to do so in a sustainable manner given the limitations as distancing requirements social impose on the available capacity.

“The extraordinary number of sold-out screenings reported over the past weekend make it clear that the sooner these restrictions can be safely relaxed, the sooner a full recovery of the industry can occur.”

Revolut data shows spending on cultural activities such as trips to the movies between May 17 and 23 was 68% lower than a normal week before the pandemic in Britain.

In Bedford, spending fell 55%, with men aged 35 to 44 being the region’s biggest spenders.

Overall, Bedford residents spent 3% more on all activities during this period than the week before, including a 13% increase in transportation spending.