Spending grows as Brits take longer lunch breaks

British workers are spending more time and more money on lunch, according to the latest report on the subject by contract caterer Eurest.

Its survey of nearly 2,500 adults across Britain and Northern Ireland found workers are now taking their longest lunch breaks in a decade, sparing an average 36 minutes from their job.

Three in five workers, or 60%, are now making time for lunch each day, compared with just 44% in 1997.

And the number who never take a lunch break has plummeted to 18%, from 29% in 1997. However, abstinence remains high in Yorkshire, where 21% of staff routinely skip a midday meal.

Workers now spend an average of £1.98 on lunch, 17% more than in 1998 when they spent £1.69 and 65% up on 1990's average of £1.20.

Londoners, at £2.40, are the biggest spenders and North-easterners, at £1.51, spend the least.

The free staff lunch has become a thing of the past for all but 5% of workers. At the extremes, only 2% of North-easterners dine courtesy of their employer, while 8% of staff in the South and Northern Ireland are served a free lunch.

This might explain why employees in Northern Ireland are the greatest fans of the staff restaurant, which is the top choice for 28% of the workforce there.

The sandwich remains the top lunchtime food for 49% of workers, with 35% opting for the healthier options of brown or granary bread - except in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where white bread is preferred.

by Angela Frewin