Consumer trends: UK – Will there be a big return to pubs and hairdressers?

Hairdressers seem to have fared better

It has been a few weeks now since the re-opening of pubs and hairdressers. We wanted to follow-up with our UK panel members to see how it has gone.

A visit to the hairdressers seemed more urgent, a big driver was feeling fed up with hair, wanting to feel normal, or pampered:

“I am quite excited as it is now 5 months since my hair was cut and it looks awful. It will be a real confidence boost to have it back to ‘normal’!”

New safety measures put in place by hairdressers often reassured customers.

Pubs generate more concern for the returning consumer

By contrast the thought of returning to the pub was sometimes a more worrying prospect. There were concerns about other’s behaviour due to alcohol:

“My hairdressers is in my village so it’s just the hairdresser and me. Only one hairdresser to one client so I feel comfortable and I have known her years. Going to the pub mixing with loads of people is scary”

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Why does half of UK say they would not be back to a pub in the foreseeable future?

Just under half of our UK panellists polled said that they would not be back to a pub in the foreseeable future. Aside from worries around risks, there were also concerns that it would be less enjoyable with the extra safety steps put in place:

“With the pub I’m not really interested in going at the minute as I feel it will either be not strict enough with everyone running wild or strict enough but having to queue/ ask for toilets, have no music and wait longer for drinks ruins the enjoyment for me so I’ll be sticking with socially distanced garden parties instead for a while yet”

25% of UK consumers have already returned to the pub or intend to visit in coming weeks

There is some positive news, around a quarter had either already been back, or intended to visit a pub in the coming weeks.

What is clear is that there needs to be strong evidence that precautions are being taken to make customers feel safe encourage their visit, and return:

“Everyone sat at their own table which was covered with a disposable table cloth, no one came to collect your glass so there was no leaning over tables, a glass carrier was put on a spare table and everyone put their glasses in there, rather than take the empty glass back to the bar, there was only one at the bar allowed each time, and everyone had a lovely night”

“It is my mum’s birthday coming up and our local pub is allowing meal bookings for a maximum of 4, so we are going to go for lunch with family. We will be a little apprehensive and have the antibac to hand, but we know the pub owners and trust them to put in good safety measures”

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