Britons will spend a record £28bn eating out this year as demand for pub grub soars. That is £2bn more than last year and represents a rise of 25% since 2000. Pubs, which have become "more family friendly", are now popular places to dine, accounting for £6.4bn of the total. Moves to combat anti-social behaviour, such as restricting alcohol promotions, have helped boost their popularity as eating places. The restaurant sector is set to be worth £18.2bn this year, with fast food outlets accounting for £7.4bn and other sectors, worth about £2bn, making up the rest. Lisa Hogg, a marketing executive at Britvic which released the figures, expects 2005 to be an even better year. Leisure analyst Nigel Popham said the eating-out trend had been boosted by demographic changes such as the "growing prosperity and number of retired or older people". The Restaurant Group, owner of the Chiquito chain, and pubs group Mitchells & Butlers are named as the companies most likely to benefit from the trend. The Independent on Sunday 09/10/05 (Business) page 4

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