Holidays rank second in what Brits refuse to cut as hospitality spending splits

Holidays and short breaks are the second thing British households would refuse to cut from their budgets, behind only TV streaming and ahead of eating out, according to new research from credit card provider Zable that points to resilient demand for time away from one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets.

In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, 23.4% said they would protect holidays and short breaks even if they had to reduce their overall household spending. Only 14.5% said they had already reduced or stopped spending on trips, the tenth most common cut on the list.

Older Britons are especially protective of travel. Almost a third of over-55s (30.7%) said they would keep their holiday fund intact, against the national average of 23.4%. The same age group is also the most attached to streaming, with 32.1% refusing to drop it, while 25 to 34-year-olds are more likely to protect gym memberships (20.8%) than travel.

Hospitality faces a more divided consumer. Eating out is the third most protected item, chosen by 20.2% of respondents, yet 24.2% have already cut back on restaurant meals, making it the second most common saving after takeaways and food delivery (27.5%). Takeaway coffee and tea show the same split: 14.7% protect their daily coffee run, while 21.8% have reduced it.

The cuts are uneven. Women are more likely than men to have reduced spending on eating out (27.3% against 20.9%) and takeaway drinks (26.3% against 16.9%), and adults aged 45 to 54 are cutting hardest, with 27% eating out less. Scotland stands out as the most protective region for restaurant meals, with 25% refusing to give them up.

Ticketed experiences are being reassessed. Nearly one in five respondents (19.3%) have cut back on cinema, theatre or concert tickets, rising to 24% in Plymouth, while 14.6% are spending less on taxis and private hire. A concert or show is often the reason for an events-led short break.

Spending on meals out is still expected to grow over time. Zable’s analysis of Office for National Statistics household expenditure data shows average restaurant and café spending rose from £759 a year in 2021 to £822 in 2025. It projects a dip to £763 in 2026 before a rise to £851 by 2030. Alcohol spending is moving the other way, falling from £515 in 2021 to £447 in 2025, with a projected £345 by 2030.

The survey describes a “lipstick effect”, with consumers holding on to small, affordable treats when larger purchases are under pressure. Zable’s card transaction data supports that pattern elsewhere in household budgets: the share of its cardholders paying for TV and entertainment subscriptions rose 20.7% between 2024 and 2025, and the share paying for Deliveroo Plus rose 83.6%, as people switch to passes and cheaper tiers rather than give habits up.

“Instead of cutting back on everything all at once, British consumers are taking a much more personal approach to their money,” said James Goforth at Zable. “People are making conscious choices to trim back on expenses that no longer feel worth the price tag, while fiercely protecting the small daily treats and routines that bring joy or make life easier.”

He added that “casual takeaways and ticketed nights out are being reassessed” while “home streaming and everyday treats have become genuine budget priorities”.

For tour operators, airlines and destinations selling to the UK, the data shows travel sitting closer to streaming than to discretionary nights out in household priorities, with the strongest commitment among older travellers.

Methodology: Zable surveyed 2,000 UK adults and analysed anonymised, aggregated credit card transaction data from its cardholders for 2024 and 2025, alongside ONS regional household expenditure data for 2021 to 2025. Projections use linear regression. Data was collected and analysed in September 2026. Source: Zable, Everyday Essentials.