Analysis of card spending has shown that a wet bank holiday is more likely to boost pub sales than a sunny one.
Data from Worldpay shows Easter Monday sales during 2015’s wet spell were 120% up on a normal Monday. However, for Easter Monday 2014, when the weather was fine, sales were up just 46% on average.
This year, with further wet weather forecast, Worldpay’s data suggests that pubs and restaurants could see takings rise by nearly 60% on Bank Holiday Monday compared to average.
Dave Hobday, UK managing director, Worldpay, said: “Like many people across the UK, I’m praying that the forecasters are wrong, and we avoid a repeat of last year’s deluge.
“Every cloud has a silver lining however, and as our data shows, bars and restaurants with the foresight to market themselves as a refuge from the downpours could find themselves very busy this weekend.”
