Cinema visits fall as competitive socialising venues prosper

The cinema sector is continuing to struggle following the Pandemic, while competitive socialising venues are enjoying growth, according to CACI’s data platform Brand Dimensions.

Comparing October 22nd to March 23rd to the same period the previous year, transactions at competitive socialising venues increased by 9%, with sales up 5%. Hollywood Bowl and Flight Club have seen particularly good performances, with transactions rising by 31% and 22%, while sales increased 13% and 17%, respectively.

Meanwhile the cinema sector’s top six operators have seen a fall in transactions of 27% and a dip in sales of 23%. However, average transaction value has up by 5% on average at five out of six leading operators.

CACI’s location intelligence platform has found that 72% of city centres have increased their leisure provision within the last year alongside 64% of regional malls. This is compared to an average increase of 29% across all destinations, with the likes of Hollywood Bowl and Flight Club undertaking aggressive growth strategies.

However satellite and suburban centres have seen falls in their respective leisure occupancy rates of 72% and 50%, with both destination classes growing their food and beverage portfolios by 91% and 58% and their health and beauty provision by 92% and 57%, respectively.

Arabella Dalloz, principal consultant and head of leisure at CACI, said: “Retail destinations that have increased their leisure portfolio see the sector as critical to attracting and retaining office workers and shoppers in a post-pandemic world, giving them more reasons to visit and spend their time and money there. While those that have decreased their leisure offer are more local community focused, and see the leisure experience as less important than quality and diversity in F&B and wellbeing focused operations.”