The new study from dining deals app EatClub reveals that Liverpool diners are 62% more likely than Londoners to dine in groups of four or more. Bristol is close behind, with diners 48% more likely than Londoners to eat out in larger groups, followed by Cardiff (+29%), Manchester (+25%) and Leeds (+20%).
People in the capital are increasingly embracing smaller tables and solo dining, according to EatClub, with its data showing that solo diners’ share of tables has risen by almost a fifth compared to the same restaurants on the app one year ago.
Weekday lunchtime dining in the city has also risen nearly 50% year on year, compared to evening visits, which have not seen the same surge.
The app also points to what it describes as ‘the death of the dinner plan’ in certain cities, with diners in Leeds planning to eat out just half an hour before taking their seats. This was followed by London, Cardiff, and Manchester, where diners plan oln average 38 minutes in advance, while those in Liverpool and Bristol planned 61 minutes in advance.
The new data also reveals a seasonal shift in dining preferences with diners moving away from summer favourites like fried chicken in favour of heartier sit-down meals. Steakhouses are proving particularly popular in the capital with their share of dining up 41% on the summer, while Italian is down 5%, Indian down 4%) and Chinese down 3%.
When it comes to regional differences, preferences are clear. While steak takes favour in London, Leeds has turned to curry, with Indian restaurants up 40% since the summer. Manchester has shifted more towards Middle Eastern cuisine, up 24%, Cardiff Italian food (up 27%), Bristol Asian food (up 26%), and Liverpool heads for breakfast and brunch, up more than 70% since the summer.
“Britain’s dining habits are ever-changing, and restaurants can’t afford to stand still,” says Jamie Crummie, UK MD of EatClub.
“That’s why we’ve launched the EatClub Restaurant Index, to give the industry a clearer picture of changing customer behaviour and help them turn otherwise empty tables into opportunities.”