British diners eating out more than ever, research finds

20 December 2016 by
British diners eating out more than ever, research finds

A new study has found that Britons now eat out on average twice a week.

Almost a third of respondents to an OpenTable survey said that dining out was better value than making meals at home. Over half (54%) admitted the amount of times they ate out had increased over the last five years, and 37% said they did so more this year than in 2015.

In the UK, Londoners were found to dine out most frequently, at over twice a week.

OpenTable found the main motivation for people to eat out was that it's easier than cooking at home (35%) and because there was an increasing variety of cuisines on offer (30%).

Almost 90% of diners said they would always opt for the set menu, whereas 69% admitted to using discount vouchers or promotional offers when eating out. A quarter of respondents said they would only dine out at restaurants that offer promotions.

Alongside discounts, 42% of diners order sharing plates, 28% order from the bar menu and 12% opt for a vegetarian option as a way of saving money.

Responding to this, 54% of restaurants surveyed said they offered promotions to attract consumers with value for money dining.

Adrian Valeriano, vice-president of OpenTable Europe, said: "It's great to see that Brits are interested in having great dining experiences while being sensible about their spending. With the increasing rate in dining out, restaurants are competitively pricing their menus in a way that challenges the average cost of dining at home."

OpenTable surveyed 2,000 UK residents and 68 UK restaurateurs in November 2016.

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