Rio Olympics could boost pub spending

The forthcoming Rio Olympic Games could provide a small boost to pub operators, according to the Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker.

Data from the research, complied on behalf of pub operator and brewery Greene King by YouGov and Trajectory Partnership, reveals that 35% of all Brits intend to watch some of the event, which runs from 5 to 21 August, in a pub.

The opening ceremony is expected to be the most popular event, with a third more adults responding that they would prefer to the opening ceremony than the 100m sprint final while enjoying a drink.

The survey also recorded that eating out was the only area of British household spending to increase during June, with a 4% rise year-on-year and a 3% increase month-on-month. Overall, average British households spent £208 on out of home leisure - a 3% decrease year-on-year, but a 1% increase month-on-month.

The Greene King Leisure Tracker surveys the spending habits of around 4,000 adults every month. Green King is the operator of around 3,100 pubs, restaurants and hotels in the UK.