UK eating-out participation fell slightly in Q2 2025, but higher frequency and spend per visit suggest consumers are choosing fewer, more purposeful occasions, with quality and value remaining the dominant decision drivers.
According to Lumina Intelligence’s latest Eating and Drinking Out Panel (EDOP), participation dipped -0.8ppts year-on-year, but frequency rose 5.9% and spend per visit jumped 9.8% to £17.89.
Growth was primarily driven by younger demographics and QSR, as inflationary pressure and summer temperatures shaped both behavioural and menu choices.
QSR is king
QSR was the strongest-performing channel, growing +1.1ppts as diners traded down from more premium formats and coffee shops. In contrast, coffee and sandwich shops posted the steepest decline (-1.3ppts), with some spend diverted toward delivery or brought-from-home meals.
Restaurants (+0.8ppts) and pubs and bars (+0.4ppts) made modest gains, supported by warmer weather and major events like Wimbledon and the Euros, though drink-only visits dropped overall.
Families, particularly those aged 35–44, showed the biggest decline in participation (-0.5ppts), while 25–34s drove frequency gains, reaffirming their importance as a core out-of-home audience.
Lunch slips as consumers shift to other dayparts
Lunch occasions fell -0.5ppts as economic caution and flexible work routines reduced midday trade. In contrast, brunch gained the most (+0.4ppts), and dinner held firm, boosted by social occasions. Participation across all food-led dayparts rose, with dinner seeing the largest uplift (+1.7ppts).
Delivery also increased its share (+1.9ppts), particularly for breakfast and lunch, suggesting a continued appetite for convenience during working hours.
The top three dishes, chips, burgers and pizza, retained their lead, though chips saw a slight decline. Salads posted the biggest uplift (+0.7ppts), as diners sought lighter options amid record-breaking heat. Smoothies also surged, while coffee declined across all meal times, impacted by rising prices and increased competition.
Domino’s posted the largest brand share gain, up +1.4ppts, thanks to its new £4 lunch deal. McDonald’s lost share amid price-related backlash, while Burger King, Wetherspoons, and KFC posted modest gains.
While cost remains front of mind, consumer psychographics reveal a more nuanced picture:
- 79% identify as quality-led (+2ppts)
- Health-conscious consumers rose +5ppts
- Brand loyalty also increased (+3ppts)
Healthier options became a more prominent visit driver across lunch, dinner, and snack occasions, while reasons like “winding down” and “socialising” gained traction, especially among younger consumers.
City centre outlets also gained share (+1.3ppts), supported by corporate return-to-office trends, while residential and retail park visits dipped.
Operators targeting younger demographics, flexible formats and purposeful, quality-led experiences are best placed to win share in a cautious but active market.
With inflation persisting and consumer confidence still fragile, value perception, not just price, will remain key.
