Northumberland customers were happy to pick up the bill last week, figures suggest, as spending in restaurants rose when diners were allowed indoors.

However, trade body UKHospitality has said the end of all social restrictions this summer is critical to get the industry “off life support” as revenue is still well below pre-pandemic levels.

Banking firm Revolut analysed the data of its 14,000 customers in Northumberland in the seven days to May 23, as they sat inside restaurants and cafes for the first time this year.

Diners spent 60 per cent more over this period than they did the previous week when only outdoor dining was permitted, with one bill totalling £240.46. However, spending was still 37 per cent below a normal week in February last year before the pandemic began.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Current restrictions severely reduce venue capacity, so restaurants’ ability to make money is constrained to well below pre-Covid levels.

“Many restaurants have been permanently lost as a result of the pandemic and there are others that, after months of closure and trading restrictions, have not yet reopened.

“A return to unrestricted trading on June 21 is critical and means hospitality businesses will come off life support and be viable for the first time in almost 16 months and enable companies to bring more staff back.”

Revolut data shows that spending on cultural activities such as cinema trips between May 17-23 was 68 per cent below a normal pre-pandemic week in Britain. In Northumberland, spending was 54 per cent down, with 25-34 year-old women the biggest spenders in the area.

Overall, Northumberland residents spent slightly more on all activities over this period than they did the week before, including a 26 per cent rise on transport expenditure.