Greene King has reported a boost to leisure spending during October from the Rugby World Cup and the release of the new James Bond film, Spectre.

The Bury St Edmunds-based pubs and brewing company’s latest Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker survey shows an overall 9% increase in spending compared with a year earlier, representing an additional £18 per household.

Greene King says the increase included growth in spending on both Eating Out and Drinking Out but was mainly driven by a 13% rise in the Other Leisure category, which includes admissions to cinemas, theatres and live sporting events.

During October, the average British household spent £206 on out of home leisure, with the overall increase of 9% year-on-year reflecting a 17% increase in spending by family households and a more modest 4% rise among households without children.

Family households spent 23% more on Other Leisure year-on-year compared to those without children, which increased their spending by just 2%.

Spending on Eating Out and Drinking Out increased overall by 5% and 11% respectively year-on-year. Family households contributed a 14% rise in Eating Out, against a 2% rise among those without children, while the increase in Drinking Out was the same for households with or without children.

Greene King said that the significantly stronger increase in spending by family households and the growth in spending on Drinking Out pointed to a higher spend around the half-term holiday and Halloween compared with October last year.

Fiona Gunn, Greene King group marketing director, said: “Drinking Out, Eating Out and Other Leisure increased this month as Brits across the country reached for their wallets to enjoy sporting and festive occasions. Halloween, the closing stages of the Rugby World Cup, Spectre and half-term in particular boosted spending as customers continue to benefit from rising real wages.”