How's Business 2025

APRIL 2025

In April 2025, visitor levels showed mixed results with 40% of businesses seeing an increase, 10% remaining level and 49% experiencing a decline. The overall estimated change in visitor/customer numbers was a decrease of -2% compared with April 2024.  Turnover levels followed a similar trend with 45% of businesses reporting growth, 10% maintaining previous levels and 45% seeing a decrease, however, the estimated actual change in turnover remained level at 0%.  These figures compare with decreases of -3% in each case for visitors/customers and turnover for the region as a whole during the same period.  The timing of Easter (Easter weekend fell in March during 2024 and in April during 2025) clearly had an impact on consumer behavior and the figures indicate fluctuating business performance with gains and losses balancing out.

At 76%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (an increase of 3% compared with last month), increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (69%, an increase of 7% compared with last month) increases in the cost of living generally (66%, an increase of 3% compared with last month) and rising energy costs (59%, no change compared with last month).  This data suggests that financial pressures, especially related to visitor numbers, rising business expenses and living costs are the most urgent concerns for businesses.

At 4.72 out of 10.00 the optimism score decreased slightly compared with last month (4.77).

Many businesses continue to report that they are struggling due to financial constraints, rising costs and a decline in visitor numbers and for some, April 2025 was particularly difficult despite Easter.  Bookings are becoming increasingly last-minute and, for many, below expected levels for 2025.  However, there is the beginning of increased optimism around the Bay with some businesses reporting a good performance over the Easter holidays and an upturn in business levels in recent weeks, albeit at relatively short notice.  Some businesses are reporting seeing an increase in footfall along the seafront and are having a good start to the main season.
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MARCH 2025

Largely as a result of the timing of Easter in 2024, March 2025 saw 60% of all businesses experiencing decreased visitors/customers compared with the same time last year – representing a decrease of -9% (compared with March 2024) and whilst the largest proportion of businesses also reported experiencing decreased turnover during the same period (53%), at -6% the decrease was slightly lower than that for visitors/customers.  These figures remain very similar to the region as a whole with decreases of -10% for visitors/customers and -7% for turnover during the same period.

64% of businesses did not anticipate their Easter performance to be as good as 2024 and 66% said the same about their April performance as a whole and whilst there was some warm and sunny weather experienced across the English Riviera during the first half of the Easter school holidays it was all change by the time the Easter long bank holiday weekend came around and just before the schools returned after the Easter break.

At 73%, businesses are currently most concerned about decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (an increase of 3% compared with last month), increases in the cost of living generally (63%, a decrease of -4% compared with last month) and increases in other business costs e.g. food (62%, a decrease of -5% compared with last month).

At 4.77 out of 10.00 the optimism score has decreased compared with last month (4.89).
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FEBRUARY 2025

February 2025 saw 53% of all businesses in each case experiencing decreased visitors/customers and turnover compared with the same time last year – representing decreases of -8% and -7% respectively compared with February 2024.

Occupancy levels for serviced accommodation, at 26%, have increased compared with February 2024 (23%) whilst self catering occupancy, at 20%, has decreased compared with February 2024 (31%).

63% of businesses currently anticipate a decreased business performance for April 2025 (when the Easter holidays fall) based on their forward bookings at the time of completing the survey. For the two-week Easter period at a regional level, we currently anticipate UK staying visitors to be down on last year and overseas staying visitors slightly up which will see staying trips down overall. However, we anticipate increased day visitor activity which will lead to the period overall being slightly up on last year which we would usually expect with the later holiday period this year compared to last. The weather will be a key factor in this!

At 70% each, businesses are currently most concerned about rising energy costs (an increase of 13% compared with October 2024) and decreasing visitor numbers/booking levels (an increase of 11% compared with October 2024), increases in other business costs e.g. food and other business supplies etc. (67%, an increase of 15% compared with October 2024) and increases in the cost of living generally (67%, a decrease of -3% compared with October 2024).

At 4.89 out of 10.00 the optimism score has increased considerably since the end of the year (4.49 Nov/Dec 2024) and to its highest level since July 2024 (5.00). Whilst times remain very challenging for businesses, particularly as the changes to employers NI contributions/thresholds and the increase in the national minimum wage and national living wage have now come into effect in April, performance has remained relatively consistent again this month with much lower decreases in visitors/customers and turnover compared with February 2024 and, encouragingly, performance has remained relatively steady over the last four months.

Occupancy levels for serviced accommodation have increased compared with February 2024 and business optimism has also increased to its highest level for six months.

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