There is no universally recognised definition of leisure and recreation. Key Note forecasts that the share will continue to rise, but not as dramatically as some commentators have suggested. The variety of restaurants available in the UK helps to maintain the growth of eating out. Favourites for many consumers are Asian restaurants, European bistros or pub-restaurants.
Fast food is increasingly popular, and more burger and pizza outlets open each year.
With more and more consumers content to have a meal out as their main leisure experience outside the home, efforts have to be made to attract them to venues such as cinemas and theatres. New multiplex cinemas are being built, but often within, or adjacent to, property complexes, which house other leisure or retailing attractions. Theatres have suffered a loss of popularity outside the West End, where big-budget productions continue to attract large audiences, both domestic and foreign. For many younger people, sport is the focus of leisure, whether it be taking part, watching on TV or at live events, or a combination of all three. Leisure time for physical activity is increasingly spent on keeping fit for fitness sake rather than playing a competitive sport.