The Eurest Lunchtime Report 2004
How long is the average lunch?
The average British worker's lunch break is 27 minutes, the same as it was two years ago. In Ireland, the lunch break is slightly longer at 33 minutes.
More than half of British workers take a lunch break every day (57%) and 20% don't take one at all. In Ireland, 85% of workers take a lunch break every day.
The length of the average working lunch
No lunch | Under 10 mins | 10-20 mins | 20-30 mins | 30-40 mins | 40-50 mins | 50-60 mins | Between 1-2 hours | Don't know | |
London | 19% | - | 11% | 22% | 14% | 8% | 23% | 2% | 2% |
The East | 14% | 2% | 20% | 27% | 11% | 6% | 17% | 1% | 2% |
The South and the South-east | 23% | 1% | 8% | 29% | 10% | 4% | 17% | 3% | 4% |
Wales, the West and the South-west | 18% | - | 5% | 41% | 17% | 1% | 14% | 2% | 1% |
The Midlands | 17% | 4% | 13% | 35% | 6% | 4% | 18% | 2% | 1% |
The North-west | 20% | 1% | 6% | 34% | 15% | 4% | 19% | - | 1% |
The North-east | 18% | 2% | 8% | 39% | 18% | 4% | 9% | 2% | - |
Yorkshire | 24% | 2% | 16% | 23% | 9% | 6% | 15% | 3% | 2% |
Scotland | 16% | 2% | 7% | 38% | 19% | 2% | 16% | - | - |
Northern Ireland | 6% | 4% | 12% | 34% | 13% | 11% | 17% | 2% | 1% |
Republic of Ireland | 3% | 2% | 9% | 30% | 20% | 8% | 25% | 1% | 1% |
Source: The Eurest Lunchtime Report 2004
Where do workers go for lunch?
Roughly one person in five in the UK (18%) buys their lunch from a staff restaurant. This option is most popular with 25- to 34-year-olds nearly a quarter of them (24%) go to a staff restaurant, compared with only 10% of people over 55.
More than one person in three (38%) brings a packed lunch. This is favoured by the over 55s (45%) and married people (41%).
Likewise in Ireland, one person in five (21%) visits the staff restaurant. In the Republic of Ireland buying from a local sandwich shop is a popular option (22%).
Half of Northern Irish men prefer a packed lunch (52%), compared with 40% of women. More than two-thirds (68%) of workers over the age of 55 choose a packed lunch. In the Republic of Ireland, only one person in four (26%) brings a packed lunch.
Places where workers buy lunch
Less than £1 | £1-£1.99 | £2-£2.99 | £3-£3.99 | £4-£4.99 | £5-£5.99 | £6 or more | Don't know | Average spend | |
London | 19% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 8% | 4% | 3% | 25% | £2.49 |
The East | 27% | 27% | 20% | 9% | 3% | - | - | 15% | £1.72 |
The South and the South-east | 25% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 30% | £1.96 |
Wales, the West and South-west | 17% | 30% | 24% | 2% | 2% | - | 4% | 22% | £1.88 |
The Midlands | 22% | 28% | 24% | 6% | 3% | 3% | - | 15% | £1.92 |
The North-west | 23% | 29% | 22% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 16% | £1.83 |
The North-east | 18% | 39% | 16% | 9% | 2% | 1% | - | 15% | £1.81 |
Yorkshire | 24% | 31% | 18% | 5% | 4% | 3% | - | 15% | £1.83 |
Scotland | 21% | 29% | 21% | 4% | 11% | 2% | - | 11% | £2.06 |
Northern Ireland | 14% | 30% | 26% | 13% | 5% | 3% | - | 9% | £2.21 |
Less than â¬1 | â¬1-â¬1.99 | â¬2-2.99 | â¬3-â¬3.99 | â¬4-â¬4.99 | â¬5-â¬.99 | â¬6 or more | Don't know | Average spend | |
Republic of Ireland | 9% | 7% | 11% | 16% | 12% | 16% | 16% | 14% | â¬4 (£2.60) |
2004 | 2002 | |
Sandwiches/bread products | 52% | 65% |
Fruit | 41% | 35% |
Salad | 33% | 30% |
Yoghurt | 25% | 23% |
Jacket potato | 20% | 22% |
Soup | 18% | 14% |
Pastry snack (pies/pasties) | 12% | 14% |
Fish and chips | 11% | 12% |
Bacon and eggs (all-day breakfast) | 9% | 10% |
Burgers | 9% | 8% |