Brits shun hotel meals

LESS than a fifth of the British public find hotel meals good value for money, according to a report on eating-out habits by business information group Key Note.

The report, UK Catering Market, also reveals that children's facilities are low on the list of priorities for most people. Out of 1,000 people interviewed for Key Note by Gallup, only 19% believed restaurants do not do enough to cater for families.

About a third of people ate regularly at fish and chip shops, with pubs coming a close second in the popularity stakes.

A fifth of people ate regularly at Chinese restaurants, while burger and pizza outlets attracted 18% and 17% of customers respectively.

Only 3% of those surveyed said they ate regularly at vegetarian restaurants. However, these are more popular than Thai or Mexican restaurants, where just 2% and 1% of people eat regularly.

And despite a resurgence in British cooking at the top end of the restaurant market, a fifth of respondents said it was becoming more difficult to find restaurants serving traditional British fare.

The report is available from Key Note on 081-783 0755 and costs £350.