With the greater tolerance towards gay people over the last 20 years, what are the five most important factors that contribute towards enjoyment at a gay venue?

With the gay market being largely a hidden population, are there certain consumer characteristics that exist within this consumer group?

What are the main political and legal issues effecting gay consumers leisure activities in the UK?

This is the first Mintel report that researches the gay entertainment market. There has been little previous research on the potential of this niche market despite the perception that it has a higher than average disposable income. What is of importance to the leisure industry is the youthful spending habits of gay people, which tend to be maintained for longer than average. Thus, gay people are generally a socially active niche group and are frequent users of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

With the greater tolerance towards gay people over the last 20 years, what are the five most important factors that contribute towards enjoyment at a gay venue?

With the gay market being largely a hidden population, are there certain consumer characteristics that exist within this consumer group?

What are the main political and legal issues effecting gay consumers leisure activities in the UK?

This is the first Mintel report that researches the gay entertainment market. There has been little previous research on the potential of this niche market despite the perception that it has a higher than average disposable income. What is of importance to the leisure industry is the youthful spending habits of gay people, which tend to be maintained for longer than average. Thus, gay people are generally a socially active niche group and are frequent users of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

The gay and lesbian economy, (the pink pound), is a significant sector for the leisure industry but represents a largely untapped market, with much of the industry slow to recognise its potential. Only a few operators have managed to induce any kind of customer loyalty within the market.

Within the alcoholic drink sector the gay market has proven to be a lucrative one, having successfully introduced new products into the rapidly growing gay scene of bars and clubs during the 1990s. With the appropriate lifestyle marketing strategies, the gay market represents huge market potential. The strengthening gay culture and increased media presence have created a climate of greater tolerance and thus more companies are prepared to associate their products with the gay market.

This report explores the various sectors within the gay entertainment market, namely pubs and clubs, and highlights the shortfalls of the gay scene which fails to provide for the needs of all the gay market. Mintel also investigates other sectors that provide an important form of entertainment and identity for gay people, such as the Internet and gay festivals.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Special Report, Youth and Leisure, 2000

- The Gay Holiday Market, Leisure Intelligence, November 2000

- Nightclubs and Discotheques, Leisure Intelligence, November 2000

- Eating Out Habits, Leisure Intelligence, August 2000

- Pub Visiting, Leisure Intelligence, August 2000

- Leisure on the Internet, Leisure Intelligence, May 2000

- Family Leisure Trends, Leisure Intelligence, March 2000

- Pre-family Leisure Trends, Leisure Intelligence, January 2000

- Satellite and Cable Television, Leisure Intelligence, November 1999

- Entertaining the Under 16s, Leisure Intelligence, September 1999

- In-home Interactive Media, Leisure Intelligence, February 1999

- Student Travel, Leisure Intelligence, January 2001

- In-home Interactive Media, Leisure Intelligence, February 2001.