Recession-hit Britons rediscover Butlins for holidays

Recession-hit Britons rediscover Butlins for holidays

Britons are going out less, spending more on drinking at home and swapping foreign trips for traditional holiday camps, because even those who have not been personally affected by the recession are scared of splashing out, research published today reveals.

Total spending was down last year on all types of alcohol except cider, which bucked the trend with a 3% increase.

Sales of drink in pubs, bars and restaurants was down 4%, but the cost of alcohol consumed at home rose by 3%. The average British household now spends £30 a week on drink - equivalent to a bottle of wine a night per household.

Worries about the recession have led almost a third of adults to cut down on purchases, according to the survey by Mintel. More than 70% of consumers are spending less. The economy now ranks as the country's top worry, with the previously leading concerns of crime and health trailing behind. James McCoy, head of consumer research at Mintel, said: "Fear alone can cause major spending adjustments. The challenge for retailers is to make consumers feel safe about spending again."

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Some 35% of Britons said the economic climate had stopped them from booking a main holiday in the next six months, and 26% had put off DIY or home improvements. Three-quarters planned to cut spending on clothing, and two-thirds said they would be eating out less. Six in 10 were limiting their drinking in the pub. As people looked to slash the cost of entertaining themselves, evenings out were the first to suffer, with expenditure falling by 3% last year. But the theatre was a surprise winner, with box office takings in London up by 2%. During the last decade the proportion of people going to the theatre rose from 36% to 50%, the British Lifestyles report revealed.

Economic concerns are prompting a revival of holiday camps such as Butlins. The market is estimated to be worth £1.3bn, with 6.4 million visitors last year.

Over the counter medicines have seen a huge growth in recent years, with the typical adult now spending £59 a year as more consumers prefer to self-medicate rather than wait for a doctor's appointment.

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