New research reveals nation’s typical Saturday Night itineraries

• Typical Saturday night out in the West Midlands starts at 7pm and ends at midnight
• West Midlanders spend £59.60, opting for dinner at the pub and a late night kebab

A typical Saturday night in the West Midlands includes cocktails, a pub dinner and a kebab to stave off the late night munchies, according to new research by ride-hailing app Bolt. The survey of 2,000 adults aged 18-45 revealed what makes the nation’s ultimate Saturday night now that lockdown restrictions have eased.

The night typically kicks off around 7pm and ends at midnight - consistent with the UK average. In contrast, revellers in the North East have the most staying power, partying on till 2am. West Midlanders spend £59.60 on average, compared to a national figure of £65.20, while the lowest spend is in the South West at £49.50.

The favourite Saturday night pastime in the West Midlands is dining out at a pub (both 56% - a more popular choice here than anywhere else in the country. More than half (52%) go to restaurants. Residents here are more likely to go bowling (21%) compared to the rest of the UK.

Locals’ favourite tipple on a Saturday is a cocktail (51% - the highest in the country). Spirits (50%) and beer (40%) are the other top picks. Revellers here are also more likely to order shots than anywhere else (37%). In contrast, the national favourite are spirits (47%) and Londoners are the most likely to raise an alcohol-free glass with 23% opting for alc-free beer while 21% go for mocktails. A simple pint is most likely to be ordered in the North East (44%).

When those late night munchies hit, the most common end-of-night snack in the West Midlands is most likely to be a kebab or burger (both 38%). And as the famed home of the Balti, it’s no surprise that curry is preferred here more than anywhere else in the UK (25%).

In contrast, pizza is the nation’s favourite (33%). Londoners are more likely to choose sushi (20%) and fruit (23%) than anywhere else in the country, while cheesy chips are more popular in the North East (33%) than the rest of the UK.

Loved-up locals in the West Midlands are more likely to socialise with their partner (50% - the highest % compared with the rest of the country), as opposed to a group of friends (22%), family (8%) or best mate (7%).

A pampered 58% of West Midlanders opt for a taxi to get them door-to-door- the highest in the country compared to the national average of 49%. A fifth opt to walk. (20%).

While Bolt driver data shows a significant increase in Saturday night travel since restrictions eased (40%), the research also revealed how the pandemic has made us rethink our social plans. A frugal third (31%) of West Midlanders say living under restrictions has made them realise how much they used to spend on going out, so now they expect to socialise less to save money. 30% say they’d rather have one special night out a month rather than do lots of socialising while a similar amount (29%) say they’re now more cautious about socialising in crowded places, and mixing with others.

Sam Raciti, Bolt’s UK General Manager comments

“The pandemic pressed a big reset button on people’s preferences and behaviours for the mighty Saturday night out across our nation. Our ride-hailing data has shown that there’s a lot of pent-up demand for mingling with others and socialising now restrictions have eased and it's fascinating to see what the ultimate itinerary in each region consists of. Bolt’s mission is all about connecting people to places and moments in real life and we’re excited to continue our expansion to ten UK cities by the end of the year”.

To download the Bolt app, visit http://bolt.eu or your app store.