The latest Oxford Market Watch, produced by The Oxford Partnership, shows footfall increased by 4.5% in the latest week compared with the same period last year.
Customers also spent more time in hospitality venues, with average dwell time rising 7.7% to 154 minutes. Average trading hours increased by 0.2%, while total consumer spend grew by 2.9%.
Food continued to lead spending growth, increasing by 3.8% compared with a 1.9% rise for drinks. Average spend per head remained resilient at £26.84.
The World Cup, which began on 11 June, provided an additional reason for consumers to visit pubs, bars and restaurants, reinforcing hospitality’s role as the destination of choice for watching major sporting events, according to the research.
“June delivered a welcome combination of warmer weather and major sporting occasions, helping to bring more consumers into hospitality venues and encouraging them to stay for longer,” says Alison Jordan, CEO at The Oxford Partnership.
“With the World Cup continuing throughout July, alongside the school holidays and the traditional summer trading period, the sector has a strong calendar of demand-driving occasions ahead. However, the gap between food and drink spending growth shows that drink-led operators continue to face significant pressure from rising costs.”