Eating out in the UK is on the rise, according to new research, which found that UK consumers dined out on average twice a week in 2016, with over half (54%) also saying they eat out more now than five years ago.
The study of 2,000 UK consumers across November by online booking service OpenTable found that one a third of Brits (37%) ate out more in 2016 than in the previous year, with almost a third (29%) saying that dining out could be better value than dining at home.
Londoners were more likely to eat out (at just over twice a week), while 18-24 year-olds also dine out over twice a week.
The survey also found that 90% of Brits would always opt for the set menu if provided, while almost two thirds (69%) use discount vouchers and promotional offers when eating out. Over a quarter of Brits (27%) said that they would only eat out at restaurants offering promotions.
When it comes to actual orders, sharing plates and platters were seen to be the option of choice, with 42% saying they would order to share with friends.
Variety was also key, with almost one in three (30%) saying they ate out because of the growing variety of cuisine styles on offer.
However, respondents in the north of England were less likely to eat out, or feel that eating out was good value, with 77% saying that cooking meals from scratch at home was more cost-effective.
OpenTable added that 81% of restaurants on its site were offering set menus, and 54% were offering promotions.
Adrian Valeriano, vice president, Europe at OpenTable, said: “It’s great to see that Brits are interested in having great dining experiences while being sensible about their spending. With the increasing rate in dining out, restaurants are competitively pricing their menus in a way that challenges the average cost of dining at home.”
