The figure is nine percentage points higher than the 35% who returned within the first ten days in July 2020, after the first national lockdown. People who have been out have made an average of 2.4 visits each and nearly all the people said their visit was better than expected (45%) or as expected (52%).
The CGA Consumer Pulse Survey was carried out on 750 British adults on Tuesday 20 April 2021. More than two in five (42%) say they would have gone out more in the last week if they thought they would have been able to get a table without a reservation.
Rachel Weller, CGA’s director of consumer research and marketing, said: “It’s great to see that consumers have embraced outside eating and drinking in hospitality’s first week back. Pubs, bars and restaurants have worked very hard to make the most of their outside spaces, and the good weather has undoubtedly encouraged a speedy return.
“With four weeks still to go until hospitality can fully return, businesses will be hoping for more sunshine and continued momentum of visits from increasingly confident consumers, while reassuring those who have not yet been out that it is safe to do so."