Brits spend a quarter of their annual income dining out
Research by OpenTable, the online restaurant booking service, said that Brits are potentially spending up to one quarter of their annual income on dining out each year.
The UK wide study revealed that on average Brits eat out 1.5 times a week, spending up to £53 per meal, equating to a potential £4,166 a year on dining out, almost one quarter of the average annual income.
The research also showed that more than half of Brits spend the majority of their income on food (58%), over going out, buying clothes, leisure activities and family.
Mike Xenakis, managing director at OpenTable, said, “It is no surprise to discover that Brits are spending a healthy amount of their income on dining out. With the diverse quality and variety of food in the UK, there is more culinary choice for diners than ever before.”
“Whilst London continues to hold the reputation as the country’s culinary capital, we are seeing more and more award winning restaurants opening in the regions, giving a larger percentage of the population access to world class dining.”
The study found that while those over 55 earn on average 30% more than 18-24 year olds, 18-24 year olds actually eat out twice as much as their elders.
More than half (57%) of those over 35 would rather have one expensive meal than dine out cheaply three times. In contrast, the majority (71%) of younger diners prefer to eat out cheaply and more often.
The most frequent diners were the people of Portsmouth, who eat out on average 2.23 times a week, more than any other city in the UK. However, Southampton and Liverpool actually enjoy dining out the most, with 87% of both cities choosing this over having a meal at home.
The study also shows women prefer to dine out more than men, with 34% of women admitting they would rather enjoy the experience of eating out at a restaurant, compared to 29% of men.
