The 5 o’clock economy

After a busy day, millions of UK workers head from the desk to the bar, the restaurant or for some light entertainment. Cebr’s latest collaboration with Heineken explores the scale of this ‘5 o’clock economy’, revealing how after-work social occasions contribute to national spending, jobs and growth.

After-work social occasions generated £20 billion in spending across the UK in 2025.

Drawing on a bespoke survey of 2,000 employed adults, conducted by OnePoll in August 2025, our analysis finds that after-work socialising generated almost £20 billion in spending across the UK in 2025, supporting a further £9 billion elsewhere in the economy. From pub drinks to shared meals and entertainment, these occasions are more than just leisure, they’re a vital driver of the UK’s service economy and an important ingredient in workplace wellbeing.

How our spending habits have changed

Looking back over the past 25 years, household spending in pubs and bars has told a mixed story. After steady decline through the 2000s and a slow recovery post-financial crisis, the pandemic brought a collapse in spending between 2020 and 2022. While nominal spending has since begun to bounce back, real-terms spending remains 41% below pre-pandemic levels as of 2024.

Cebr’s latest forecasts offer signs of optimism. We estimate that alcohol consumption in pubs and bars will rise 17% between 2024 and 2025, reaching £8.9 billion, evidence that people are reconnecting after years of disruption.

Spending on after-work occasions

Our research shows that 65% of employed adults (around 22 million people) took part in at least one after-work occasion in 2025. Although this marks a slight dip from 71% before the pandemic, the scale of participation remains significant.

Those who attend typically go to around 13 events per year, spending £68 per occasion, with £24 on food, £22 on drinks and £22 on entertainment. Across the year, the average participant spent £897 on after-work socialising, totalling £19.7 billion nationwide. Notably, the share of spending on alcoholic drinks has declined since 2019, possibly reflecting broader lifestyle shifts towards food and shared experiences.

Patterns vary across demographics. Younger workers aged 25–34 are the most active socialisers, 57% more likely to attend at least one event than those aged 55–64. London leads the way geographically, with 88% of workers attending at least one event per year, compared with just 55% in the South West. Those in science, technology and professional services were also most likely to take part, with over nine in ten attending at least one event, compared to just 53% those in transport and logistics. This reflects the broader trend we see, that office-based workers are more likely to attend than others.

Beyond the bar — a national impact

The benefits of after-work spending ripple far beyond pubs and restaurants. Cebr’s economic modelling shows that after-work food and drinks directly generated £12.3 billion in revenue for hospitality businesses, provided over 168,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, and contributed £5.9 billion to UK GDP in 2025.

When additional activity supported throughout supply chains and via employee spending is factored in, the total impact grows considerably. On aggregate, after-work food and drinks supported the generation of £28.9 billion in revenue, over 301,000 FTE jobs, and £12.7 billion in GDP. 

More than half of this GDP contribution (£7.2 billion) is expected to flow directly to households in employee compensation in 2025.

Our estimate of the wider impacts of after-work occasions exclude entertainment spending, so the true economic impact of after-work occasions will be higher than figures presented here.

The wider role of social connections in the workplace 

The economic story is only part of the picture. Our survey also reveals the personal and workplace benefits of after-work occasions. The most common reasons people enjoy them are getting to know colleagues on a more personal level (40%) and boosting team morale (31%).

We also observe a positive relationship between respondents’ income levels and their positivity towards after-work occasions. Higher earners, often in roles with greater networking expectations, are more likely to view after-work occasions as sources of creativity and new ideas. 

For employers, the benefits are clear too: 59% of workers said they would be less likely to leave a job if they had strong relationships with colleagues, underscoring how informal connections can improve retention and engagement.