BUSY restaurants and cafes are toasting a surge in trade as diners spent thousands in Southend, Basildon and Castle Point kick-starting the much-needed Covid recovery.

New figures show Southend diners spent 39 per cent more cash in the week to May 23 than they did the previous week when only outdoor dining was allowed, with one bill costing £318.30.

Over in Castle Point, customers splashed 72 per cent more money in the time period and one dining bill came in at £283.80.

Basildon also saw a huge spike in the amount spent at venues in the lead up to May 23, the figures by banking firm Revolut suggest, with residents spending 81 per cent more and one top bill costing diners £333.82.

Businesses across south Essex including the Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay, have worked hard to create safe environments which are helping to entice restaurant-goers.

Antony Tomassi, 66, owner of Tomassi’s in Southend High Street, said his business had been very busy.

He said: “We have found customers are staying longer and spending more money, with most having a minimum of two courses and some having three courses. Since we re-opened for inside eating we’ve been fully booked everyday and it’s been very good for us. We are still not at the level we were pre-pandemic and we are still on reduced seating.”

Steve Haslam, 55, director of restaurant firms TLC Inns and Morlynnes and owner of the Bread and Cheese Pub in Benfleet and the White Horse in Ramsden Heath, said business had been good. He said trading continues to be positive and he cannot thank people enough for all their support.

Revolut data also shows that spending in Southend on cultural activities such as cinema trips between May 17 and 23 was 68 per cent below a normal pre-pandemic week in Britain.

In the town, spending was 58 per cent down, with 35 to 44 year-old women the biggest spenders in the area - according to the banking firm.

Overall, Southend residents spent slightly more on all activities over this period than they did the week before, including a 12 per cent rise on transport expenditure.