Frequency of eating out is at its highest for two years, although spend is down, according to foodservice consultancy Horizons.
Horizons’ latest QuickBite survey, conducted among 2,105 consumers in June 2012 by YouGov, shows British adults are choosing to go out more often than they have done in two years - the highest frequency since December 2010.
The survey found that the average British adult had eaten out 2.77 times in the past two weeks, compared with 2.02 times in July 2011.
Pub restaurants (19 per cent), takeaway and home delivery outlets (17 per cent), as well as Italian restaurants and other European restaurants with nine per cent each, were the most popular venues for respondents who had eaten out in the previous two weeks.
However, while consumers are eating out more often, spend for those who had eaten out in the past two weeks had declined and now stands at an average of £12.30 (including drinks), compared with £12.69 a year ago.
Average spend in restaurants and pub restaurants dropped to £15.46 in June 2012 from £17.00 in January 2012, while average spend on quick-service dining fell from £9.60 to £7.29.
Horizons’ director of services Paul Backman said: “It is surprising, given the difficult economy and the fact that retail spending remains low, that the respondents to our survey are still eating out on a regular basis, and in fact more regularly. Pub restaurants and takeaways are the most popular choices, perhaps as diners downgrade from more expensive establishments.
“We expect the quick service and takeaway sector to receive a significant boost over the next few weeks with the start of the London Olympics, as people stay at home to watch the events and order a takeaway or food delivery.
“The fact average spend has fallen is evidence of continued cost cutting - forgoing a course, ordering a glass of wine instead of a bottle, or opting for a sharing dish. The amount of discounting in the sector has also driven down average spend. Pub restaurants, and the large chains in particular, have also been very successful in reducing their prices to improve footfall. Average spend in pub restaurants has fallen from £15.80 in January 2012 to £13.28 in June 2012.”
Of those that had eaten out in the past two weeks, the biggest spenders were consumers in the 45-54 age group, at £13.86 per head. Those aged 35-44 years spent an average of £12.99, while the over-55s spent £12.85.
Of those who had eaten out, Londoners had the highest average spend on a meal in the UK, at £14.59. Consumers in Wales were the second-biggest spenders at £12.74, with those in the Midlands ranked third at £12.53. The lowest spenders were respondents in Scotland, who spent an average of £11.24 on a meal out.
