Research by online booking platform OpenTable has shown 61% of diners would be more likely to visit a restaurant if it had a welcoming bar area.
The survey of more than 1,300 UK diners and restaurateurs also showed that 81% of consumers and that 55% would visit a restaurant specifically for its bar menu.
The research found 26% of those polled would prefer to dine in a high-priced restaurants bar area before deciding to invest in a meal in the restaurant.
Mike Xenakis, managing director of OpenTable, said: “The trend for bar dining is something we have seen coming through in our discussions with our restaurant partners over the past few months, and it’s interesting to see that the wider dining community is tapping into this too.
“A great bar area not only acts as the gateway to a restaurant but is an area where chefs can test menu concepts and stay ahead of the trends.”
OpenTable found that 19% of restaurants that do not currently house a bar are looking to invest in one. Key incentives included the ability to offer a varied price point menu and to keep guests in the restaurant for longer.
Of those restaurants surveyed that currently have a bar, 65% either have, or are planning to invest in the area in the next year and 49% of restaurateurs with a bar are planning on increasing their marketing to promote bar dining.
