Younger diners to lift restaurant visits: survey

Millennials and Gen Z plan to dine out more despite wider consumer caution.

A quarter of UK consumers plan to dine out more in the coming months, driven largely by Millennials and Gen Z, according to a new survey of 400 consumers by Revenue Management Solutions.

The findings point to a growing cohort of younger, high-frequency diners even as overall demand shows signs of softening.

More than a third of respondents said they visited pubs, fast-casual and full-service restaurants less in the past month, with fast-casual seeing the sharpest decline at 41%. RMS said operators will need to sharpen value messaging through targeted menus and bundle offers as budget-conscious consumers reassess discretionary spending.

Price sensitivity remains high across food occasions. 81% of consumers said they paid more for groceries in Q3 2025, up from 66% a year earlier, whilst 67% believe restaurant prices have risen. With grocery price inflation hitting 5.2% in mid-July, consumers are placing greater emphasis on value for money when choosing where to eat. RMS noted that restaurants offering affordable pricing alongside the experiential elements that home dining cannot deliver could win market share.

The survey also found that 32% of respondents are buying more ready-meals, driven by perceived value and convenience. RMS said operators can compete for this spend by offering faster, simpler and more affordable dining experiences.

Looking ahead, 21% of consumers intend to visit QSR restaurants more often, whilst fewer plan visits to fast-casual (38%) and full-service (40%) sites. Still, nearly one in four respondents expect to dine in restaurants more frequently, underscoring opportunities for brands that pair smart pricing with strong guest experiences.

Consumer behaviour is split: 34% are focused on saving when dining out, whilst 33% are indulging more. Amongst those spending more, 63% said they are ordering the same meals at higher prices. Those cutting back are ordering less or trading down to cheaper options.

Millennials and Gen Z stand out as the most active diners. 40% of Millennials and 37% of Gen Z plan to increase QSR visits, whilst 38% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennials expect to dine in more. Ninety-five per cent of Millennials dine out weekly, and both groups lead in take-away delivery, with 82% ordering weekly.