James Bond and rugby help lift leisure spending by 9%

The Rugby World Cup and the release of the new James Bond film Spectre contributed to a 9% upswing in leisure spending in October.

That's according to the latest Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker report, which saw household leisure spend across Britain up £18 compared with October last year.

The increase was largely as a result of a 13% increase in "other leisure" spending which includes admissions to the cinema, theatre and live sporting events, although spending on eating and drinking out also rose significantly.

Year-on-year growth in spend on eating out and other leisure was "significantly stronger" among family households (17%) than it was among others without children (4%), indicating a higher spend around half term and Halloween than the same time last year, Greene King said.

In October, the average British household spent £206 on out-of-home leisure, a 9% increase year-on-year.

Spending on eating and drinking out increased by 5% and 11% respectively year on year.

Commenting on this month's Leisure Spend Tracker, Fiona Gunn, Greene King group marketing director, said: "Drinking Out, Eating Out and Other Leisure increased this month as Brits across the country reached for their wallets to enjoy sporting and festive occasions.

"Halloween, the closing stages of the Rugby World Cup, Spectre and half term in particular boosted spending as customers continue to benefit from rising real wages."

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