Poll finds UK diners prefer British-style food
British food in restaurants is the most popular cuisine for people in the UK, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted by Travelzoo, also found that almost two thirds (70%) of people have a favourite restaurant that they visit regularly.
Timed to coincide with British Food Fortnight (currently running until 5 October), more than 2,000 UK adults were asked to rank their preferences when it came to dining out in their local area. After British food, Indian cuisine was the second most-popular nationally, followed by Italian, Chinese, "gastro-pub" style, Thai, American, French, and Japanese.
There were also regional differences: Brighton residents preferred Italian, while Scots, Londoners and Mancunians preferred Indian food to British dishes.
Global firm Travelzoo seeks to provide deals from more than 2,000 travel, entertainment and local companies, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
It is helping to support British Food Fortnight by offering deals with more than 65 UK restaurants from 20 September to 5 October, including a "gourmet deal" at London's Savoy hotel for under £50 per person.
Heather Rogers, general manager of Travelzoo's UK restaurant deal business, said: "British consumers like to think of themselves as adventurous in their dining habits, but we have found that there is still a real affection for traditional British food. It's not that surprising that as a nation we are proud to support British restaurants."
Its teams also found that British food has sometimes been interpreted in slightly creative ways around the world, including a New York restaurant serving bangers and mash with gravy for breakfast, a New Zealander pizzeria creating a Marmite-stuffed crust, and a Hong Kong café serving a scotch egg and avocado salad.
British Food Fortnight is a national food promotion organised by Love British Food. It aims to celebrate British food and British culinary traditions.
Cucina and chef Phil Howard create new school meals for British Food Fortnight >>