Nearly 4 in 10 Brits eat out solo in 2019: study

Solo visits have grown by 6.8%.

Nearly four in ten Brits or 4.4 billion have eaten out alone last year, up by 6.8% compared with the overall foodservice visit growth of 2.9%, according to the NPD Group’s latest report.

The research firm noted that solo eaters have increased their average eat out spend by 16% over the five years up to the end of 2019. Breakfast was seen to be the segment where most solo eating is common, with visits up by 15% in the same period.

This rise in solo eating was attributed to workplace pressures, the firm noted. Solo eating whilst at work is 80% more likely than average and 59% more likely to involve an order made via a self-ordering kiosk.

Further, the report highlighted that eight in ten solo eater visits happens off-premise, suggesting that lone customers are uncomfortable eating on site.

Pan-Asian, Indian and Chinese cuisines, as well as kebab outlets, have seen the most solo eater visits in the past five years, rising 46%, followed by pizza and Italian dishes with 34% solo visits growth. QSR burger chains (30%), pubs (28%) and full-service restaurants (10%) have seen the same pick up too.

“All sorts of restaurants should respond to this trend to take a slice of this growing market,” Insights director Domino Allport suggested in a statement. “One obvious improvement is to create a more inviting interior – with counter-style seating to make eating alone on the premises less daunting. Modern pan-Asian outlets such as Yo! Sushi and Wasabi are great examples of this.”

He also proposed zoning as a design strategy, where small tables or sofas are clustered together, “so solo diners don’t feel awkward when surrounded by larger groups.”

“And if lone diners want to linger to do some work, then friendly staff, pull-out desks, power sockets and table ordering via an app can all help to maximise additional spend,” Allport added.