Leisure data
Cinema admissions
In the first quarter of 2022, cinema revenues totalled £203 million, 19% lower than the same period in 2020 and 23% lower than 2019. Admissions were 23% lower than the same period in 2020 and 26% lower than 2019, totalling almost 28 million. This was also the second lowest number of admissions on record (excluding lockdown periods), although recovery is expected to continue throughout the year. The lower figures were likely driven by the Covid restrictions, which were all lifted in England in March. The Batman was the highest grossing film, earning more than £40 million, with further blockbuster releases, such as Top Gun 2, Avatar 2 and the latest Thor movie all likely to increase admissions and revenue throughout the year.
UK CINEMA ADMISSIONS & REVENUE
Source: Digital Cinema Media
Leisure operators
LICENSED LEISURE PREMISES BY TYPE
Source: CGA/Alix Partners
Since the start of the pandemic, over 9,000 licensed leisure premises have closed, although the level of closures has slowed during the first quarter of 2022 compared to December 2021 according to the CGA/Alix Partners Market Recovery Monitor. There may be further pain to come for the sector throughout the year as inflation continues to rise, supply chain problems and labour shortages persist, as well as a decline in consumer spend combined with record-low levels of consumer confidence. The latest Barclaycard consumer spend report highlighted that there had been a 5.9% decline in eating and drinking out between April and May and this trend is likely to continue as household budgets continue to be impacted by the significant increase in costs.
Visitor attractions
According to ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions) numbers of visitors to UK attractions in 2021 saw an increase of 25% compared to 2020, however, figures were 57% below pre-pandemic levels. Although London did experience an increase in visitor numbers, it only increased by 17% compared to 2020 and was significantly lower than the 26% average increase across the rest of England. Both the National Gallery and Westminster Abbey saw significant falls in visitor numbers, 41% and 26% respectively. The most popular attraction was Windsor Great Park, which is the first time the UK’s most visited attraction was located outside of London. The increase in staycations last year also helped some locations record record-levels of visitor numbers including St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, which saw a 321% increase in visitors on the previous year.
VisitBritain has downgraded its forecast for international visitor numbers to the UK this year from 24 million to 21.1 million with spend expected to decrease from £19.2 billion to £16.9 billion. This has been driven by further lockdowns in Asia, as well as the war in Ukraine. It predicts that, by summer, almost half of pre-COVID inbound visitor volume will have returned and by the end of the year recovery will reach around two thirds of pre-COVID levels. It's said that it will be a ‘few years’ before visitor numbers return to 2019 levels.
AMUSEMENT & THEME PARKS IN THE UK
Source: Ibis Reports
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