Leeds ranked among biggest restaurant spenders in UK after reopening of indoor hospitality

Since May 17, pubs, restaurants and cafes across the city have sprung back to life as customers revisit their favourite haunts.

Card payments provider Dojo analysed transaction data from May 17-23 to find out how much sales increased over the first week of pubs and restaurants fully reopening.

Leeds had one of the largest week-on-week increases in spend on restaurants and pubs in the country.

Transactions were up more than 100 per cent compared to the previous week, the seventh highest of all UK towns and cities.

Stoke on Trent topped the list with a 195 per cent week-on-week increase in spending at restaurants.

Yorkshire town Cleveland came in second with a 144 per cent increase, followed by Blackpool at 115 per cent.

Dojo found restaurant spending across the country was 17 per cent higher than an average week in July 2020, when restaurants were open between lockdowns.

The company's head of customer insights, Jon Knott, said: "After more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions, it is no wonder that we’re eager to get back to normality, and for some of us, this includes going out for dinner at the local restaurant.

"On the May 17, 23 per cent more restaurants were able to trade compared to the previous week. These new relaxed restrictions also meant that 67 per cent more pubs were also able to trade.

"It’s great to see the hospitality industry picking back up and we hope to see small businesses flourish throughout the summer months.”

-> The best restaurants in Leeds according to Tripadvisor

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