Entertainment habits in Redditch have changed noticeably over the past few years. More people are spending their free time at home on phones, laptops, and streaming platforms rather than casually heading into town.
For local businesses, that shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Across the West Midlands, venues and independent operators are having to rethink how they attract customers as digital entertainment becomes a bigger part of everyday life.
Redditch high street adjusting to online habits
The picture for Redditch’s high street is more nuanced than the familiar narrative of inevitable decline. Retail business numbers across the West Midlands grew by 9.4% between 2020 and 2024, with nearly 1,600 new retail premises opening in that period.
Redditch itself recorded 2.6% real GVA growth in 2023, one of the strongest performances in the Greater Birmingham area. That context matters. It suggests Redditch has an economy capable of supporting new business formats rather than simply contracting.
The issue isn’t that people have stopped spending; it’s that where and how they spend has shifted significantly. Businesses that rely solely on traditional footfall models are feeling the pressure most acutely, while those that have evolved their offering are finding a more resilient position.
Where local spending is moving online
Online entertainment has become a substantial destination for household budgets. Streaming subscriptions, gaming platforms, and digital services now compete directly with physical venues for the same discretionary pounds.
This can be seen across several forms of entertainment. Some consumers now spend more time on multiplayer video games, streaming platforms, or mobile entertainment than they do going out locally. Others are exploring fast-paced games such as those available on aviator casinos, which have become part of the broader growth in interactive online entertainment.
The scale of this change is considerable. The UK online gambling market was valued at USD 8.55 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach USD 24.05 billion by 2035. That trajectory reflects a broader consumer willingness to spend on digital leisure rather than physical alternatives, and it stretches well beyond gambling into gaming, streaming, and interactive entertainment more broadly.
What digital entertainment options do residents now use?
Streaming and online video have influenced how people in Redditch and across the UK fill their evenings. Ofcom’s data reported that UK adults spent an average of 4 hours and 30 minutes online each day in 2025 outside of work. Half of that time flows to platforms owned by major tech companies, particularly YouTube and Meta-owned services.
Video gaming is another major category. UK consumers spent £7.6 billion on games in 2024, with mobile gaming spend rising 8.1% year-on-year, according to industry data compiled by the ICAEW from UKIE figures.
These aren’t niche habits. They represent mainstream leisure choices that span a wide range of residents. This means local businesses can no longer treat digital entertainment as something separate from their competitive landscape.
Local businesses finding opportunity in the change
The most encouraging signal for Redditch operators is that digital entertainment and physical venues don’t have to be purely in opposition.
Deloitte’s UK Consumer Tracker data from late 2025 showed net increases in both in-home leisure and culture and entertainment spending during the period. That came even as overall leisure spending softened. The figures suggest people are still willing to spend money when the experience genuinely appeals to them.
That points to experience-led formats as the strongest path forward. Venues that offer something a screen cannot replicate are still finding an audience. Live events, themed social nights, hands-on activities, and communal spaces continue to stand out as more routine entertainment moves online.
Redditch Borough Council’s 2025 Issues & Options Local Plan consultation also acknowledges the growing impact of online retail and digital leisure habits on the town centre. That signals local planners expect the shift to continue rather than reverse. For independent businesses willing to adapt, the opportunity now lies in offering experiences people cannot easily recreate online.
Article written by Luc Gossens who is a freelance writer and keen observer of Northern California’s wine country culture, seasonal traditions and small-town dynamics. With a deep interest in community vitality and economic resilience, they explore how winter events in places like Healdsburg sustain local identity, support businesses and enliven public spaces year-round.
