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Coastal breaks are on the rise, according to our survey
After a warmer than usual spring1, attention now turns to the summer months ahead. Longer days, hotter temperatures, and of course, the holiday season – which looks to be more popular than ever, particularly in UK coastal locations.
According to our recent survey, 86.2% of people said they have booked or were considering booking a UK coastal break this year, 2 yet in a similar survey conducted by Verdant leisure in 2024 it was found that only 59% of their respondents were planning on taking coastal breaks.
Top places for UK holidays this year
We set out to find the most popular places in the UK for a coastal holiday, and this year the top three were Wales, Scotland the South-West. With a stunning coastline and abundant wildlife, Wales took the top spot as the most popular destination to visit. Following behind in second place is bonnie Scotland, where visitors can island hop and taste fresh seafood while experiencing the rich culture of the Highlands.
Finally, the third most popular destination was the South-West, where activities range from cosy coastal pubs to seaside entertainment for all the family. Participants also said they’d consider visiting places like the South and East coast too.
Where you choose to stay on your holiday is a key factor to making your holiday one to remember. As well as cost and convenience, seaside accommodation can elevate your holiday depending on what works best for you. Interestingly, results show that staying in a hotel on the coast is the most attractive option which appeals to those who want comfort and added services such as dining or spa facilities.
With 24.2% preferring self-catering, which offers a home away from home experience, others are opting to stay in designated holiday parks which offer a different experience all together. Many holiday parks offer budget-friendly prices that include entertainment for all the family including karaoke, live performances and more- no wonder they’re a popular place to stay this summer!
Cost and Convenience:
It’s no surprise that cost and convenience are the most important factors for people to look out for when booking a holiday, after all, the beauty of a staycation allows us to save pennies that would otherwise be spent on a holiday overseas. Participants say they’re looking to spend up to £400 on their coastal break, in places such as hospitality and other attractions, whilst some plan to spend up to £1000.
According to Wigwam, people are opting for a staycation in the UK to save money, as factors such as abroad packages and airport transfers can really add up. As well as this, Wigwam also state people are becoming increasingly more aware of our climate, and holidaying in the UK is considered a more eco-friendly option. (ref below)
With the UK boasting some incredible coasts, it’s no shock that 72% of participants are willing to travel between 2-4 hours to reach their destination, with some planning to travel 6 or more hours.
What are holiday makers looking to spend their money on?
According to our survey the majority of people plan to visit a pub or bar at least once on their coastal break, while one in five plan to visit over five times. 2
Similarly, around said they plan to visit restaurants and cafés while on their UK coastal holiday, with around 40% saying they plan to visit more than once.2
With a typical break lasting around a week, this could mean tourists are planning on visiting hospitality venues around once per day whilst on their coastal break.
Atmosphere is important, how do you enhance yours?
As well as cost and convenience being major factors to those booking a getaway, the atmosphere of a hospitality venue and holiday attractions was ranked the most important aspect to visitors during their coastal break, surpassing both review rating and whether a venue is family friendly. 2
Our survey also found that for around 20% of people who plan to visit venues more regularly, the atmosphere ranked the most important aspect overall.
According to another of our recent surveys, the majority of people said that music is important to creating an appealing atmosphere in hospitality venues, with over two-thirds of customers saying they would leave a venue that isn’t playing music because of the lack of atmosphere. When asked, 53% of customers also said they dislike sitting in silence while eating a meal, while hearing music in a venue was a priority for 21% of people.George Greenaway from the Great British Pub Award Winning venue, The Tamworth Tap tell us :
“Our music works with the time of day, the day of the week and the season. Even the weather is a factor. We create playlists that suit that particular situation and are filed as Christmas, sunny day, Sunday morning etc.”
We have so many comments on how customers have enjoyed the playlists even asking where they can buy the CD. I’m certain we keep customers a little longer as they can’t leave because of the music.”
George Greenaway, The Tamworth Tap
And it’s not just background music that can add to the atmosphere and create an enjoyable experience for customers.
In our survey, around 60% of people said they would be more inclined to visit a hospitality venue if they have live music and/or music related entertainment on offer, while 35.6% ranked live music as the most enjoyable form of entertainment to experience while on a coastal holiday – something that was ranked more popular than arcades, bowling, mini-golf and bingo.2
As George continues:
“Nestled at the bottom [of the garden] is the live music stage flanked by seating and tables. We built it about 5 years ago to utilise the space for live music, which is a huge draw on a Sunday afternoon. We also host live music on some Friday nights and special bank holiday gigs.”
And crucially, music can influence spending in hospitality businesses too. Given the opportunity, 40% of people said that they are more likely to indulge in an extra treat if music, particularly pop music, is playing in a pub or café, while 31% of restaurant diners would be more inclined to order more expensive items on the menu if classical music was playing.4
Similarly, 67% of people admit to leaving a venue after realising no songs were playing, particularly in pubs – where one in five choosing the door over a drink after a silent reception.
Do I need a music licence to use music in my hospitality venue?
Music and live entertainment can be an important aspect for attracting customers into hospitality venues during the summer holiday period. But using music both live and recorded, will usually require TheMusicLicence.
Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those people who create music – in order to play or perform music in public.
Obtaining TheMusicLicence gives you this permission, in relation to the vast majority of commercially available music. This ranges from grassroots and independent artists and composers through to the biggest names in the business.
Find out more and get TheMusicLicence in time for the summer months ahead by visiting pplprs.co.uk/get-themusiclicence/
References
- https://smartwatermagazine.com/blogs/simon-h-lee/how-weather-got-stuck-over-uk-and-produced-unusually-dry-and-warm-spring
- Survey performed by PPL PRS via Attest based on 2000 UK adults, April 2025
- https://www.verdantleisure.co.uk/our-journal/travel-trend-report-2024/
- https://pplprs.co.uk/benefitsmusic/how-can-music-influence-consumer-behaviour/
- Wigwam
Author
Rhiannon Jepson
Rhiannon Jepson is a Member of The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked in communication roles for around 7 years. She joined PPL PRS in November 2017, shortly after studying for a degree in English Literature, where she developed her love of writing and creativity. Since then, she has completed the CIPR Foundation course and enjoys bringing together her love of communications and music through her role as Senior PR & Communications Executive.
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