It shows $16.8 million was spent on dining and entertainment in Orange in March, by both locals and visitors, which was up by $1.8 million [12 per cent] on March 2018.

The figures showed the spending was also up by 3.88 per cent in February and 9.85 per cent in January compared to the previous year.

The data, supplied by information companies Data Republic and Spendmapp, showed about $15 million is spent in the area with more than 33 per cent contributed by visitors.

They also showed retail growth was up by 0.3 per cent in March 2019, 1.3 per cent in February and 2.4 per cent in January over 2018.

Dining and entertainment was in the news last week following the closure of Percy's Bar and Restaurant on Summer Street.

However, Orange mayor Reg Kidd said it was an isolated incident.

"While there may be businesses that aren't riding the wave of this growth, the data comes as great news for the wider community," he said.

"Sometimes in small business it's hard to see the wood for the trees."

Cr Kidd said after speaking to club, hotel, restaurant and cafe operators around Orange he believed the sector was strong.

He said venues doing well include Orange Waratah Sports Club. "They said it was just fantastic," he said.

Cr Kidd said Kate Jones@One Nineteen had been booked out for a forum while Duntryleague had a busy weekend with a wedding booking. "The whole place was busy," he said.

He said hotels were trading strongly. "They tell me the Ophir is going gangbusters, the Robin Hood is going gangbusters, the Canobolas is going gangbusters. The Parkview is going extremely well," he said.

Cr Kidd said wineries, including those at Philip Shaw Wines, Heifer Station Wines and Borrodell Vineyard, were also "going well."

He said a range of circumstances determined the success of individual venues.

"Some places make it, some places don't make it," he said.

Cr Kidd said he believed it was "only a matter of time" before the now-closed Eighteen 70 restaurant site in Byng Street was re-opened as another eatery.

Several cafes based outside Summer Street told the Central Western Daily last week they were trading well, preferring the advantages of being out of the CBD.

Orange360 tourism general manager Caddie Marshall said it was important for businesses "to know their niche" and use it to attract customers.

Council employment and economic development committee chair Cr Tony Mileto said it was a "very fluid" industry sector.

"There'll always be new businesses coming in and others moving on," he said.

"It's understandable the staff involved and their customers are sad when their favourite watering hole disappears, but the community shouldn't take that as a sign of the bigger picture."

Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...