Britons are deserting the kitchen in their droves in favour of eating out, according to a survey conducted by market analyst Mintel.
A combination of hectic lifestyles, higher disposable incomes and cheaper meals is given as the main reason for the change.
The survey, which questioned 2,000 people, shows that spending on restaurants has rocketed by more than an third in the past five years, with one in three people now eating out at least once a week. In 1998, the average weekly expenditure on eating out was £10.90. This figure has now risen to £18.60.
Pat Neviani-Aston, who conducted the research on behalf of Mintel said: “Because eating out has become relatively much cheaper and people are working longer hours, restaurants tend to become a more attractive option than slaving over the stove. The tradition of home cooking seems to have been lost somewhere down the line.”
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