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News
British drinkers lack confidence to return to bars
Just over half of British drinkers said they would not feel confident going to pubs, bars and restaurants, according to a survey.
According to CGA’s first Hospitality Consumer Forecast of 2021, 51% of British drinkers said they would not feel confident visiting pubs, bars and restaurants.
The survey found just 34% of drinkers in Britain would feel very confident or quite confident about visiting pubs, bars and restaurants if they were open now. In October, 44% of people said they would be comfortable eating and drinking out.
Confidence in the on-trade could change once schools reopen in Britain. Although currently closed due to the latest UK lockdown, almost equal numbers said that if schools were open they would be confident (34%) or not confident (35%) about visiting the on-trade.
CGA also found that confidence levels in the on-trade could jump as the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine continues.
According to the survey, nearly half (47%) of consumers think they would be comfortable visiting hospitality venues again when those who are considered vulnerable to Covid-19 are vaccinated.
Once consumers themselves are vaccinated against the virus, 59% said they would be confident to return to bars, pubs and restaurants.
Charlie Mitchell, CGA’s research and insight director, said: “With Covid-19 infections running at such high levels in recent weeks, it is inevitable that many consumers feel anxious about going out. However, with vaccines now available, we can at last see some light at the end of the tunnel.
“The road to recovery is still long, and hospitality faces the huge task of reassuring consumers about their safety when the market reopens. But this is a challenge to which the sector rose magnificently in the summer, and we know that it will do so again this year.
“With confidence so closely tied to the roll-out of vaccines, and so much pent-up demand for going out to eat and drink, we can be optimistic that footfall and spend will return as 2021 goes on.”
The research from CGA also highlighted consumer concerns about the impacts of the pandemic.
More than three quarters of those polled were worried that life will not return to normal in 2021, and 80% were concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on their health and their family.
CGA also found that 78% of people are concerned about the financial implications of the pandemic.