Brighton and Hove bounce back financially and socially stronger post-Covid

The city has had a 385 per cent increase in spending since lockdown restrictions were lifted in April, according to credit card brand Aqua.

This compares with a UK average of 361 per cent.

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People in Brighton and Hove were also the most eager to get back to eating and drinking out - the city recorded the most pub, bar and restaurant-related Google searches.

There was an increase of 650 per cent in spending on eating and drinking out since April, as well as the highest search volume per capita for terms such as "pubs near me" and "best restaurants".

Northampton has had the second-highest overall spend increase post-lockdown of 377 per cent, followed by London (375 per cent).

The report estimates that Brits spent £6.6 billion less during the pandemic compared with the year before.

Holiday spending was the most affected sector nationwide, decreasing by an average of 63 per cent, equating to a reduction of over £1.3 billion.

Newcastle residents were the most eager to get away post-lockdown, with a 482 per cent increase in holiday spending, compared with the nation’s average of 437 per cent.

Brighton and Hove ranked in second place, with residents having spent over five times more on travel since restrictions eased.

People in the city were especially keen to relax after the last year, as terms such as "spas in Brighton" and "spa breaks" were some of the highest travel-related searches here.

Brighton and Hove bouncing back strongest post-Covid, new study finds

Brighton and Hove also topped the charts in terms of cities most eager for a pint.

There was a 71 per cent increase nationwide in search volume for pubs with gardens in April 2021 compared with the peak time of July in 2019.

Searches for "pubs near me" and "pubs with beer gardens" were most frequently searched in Brighton and Hove.

Bristol and London rounded out the top three, followed by Edinburgh, Newcastle and Manchester.

Aqua commercial director Sharvan Selvam said: “Now that the economy and our social lives are beginning to return to normal, it’s great to see our customers and the nation getting back to the things they enjoy most.

"However, we all know that it is easy to get carried away by the euphoria of our regained freedom, so it’s key to continue making good financial decisions, which in turn will help you build a stronger credit score.”