Archive · 6 Aug 2025
Early Dinner Boom: A Shift in UK's Dining Habits?
Many people are eating dinner earlier than they used to.
Restaurants are seeing more people booking tables at 6pm or even 5pm.
Some people think this is because of the rise of working from home and a focus on health.
They can eat earlier, then have free time in the evening.
Others miss the late-night dinners.
They view it as a way to slow down and enjoy an evening out.
Some restaurants are trying to attract late-night diners with discounts.
Early dinner bookings (6pm) are up in London and across the UK, according to OpenTable and Zonal data.
The average dinner time in the UK is now 6:12 pm.
Factors contributing to the trend include work-from-home, health and wellness trends, and adopting American working hours.
Some view early dining as 'decadent,' offering more free time in the evening.
Others see the late dinner as 'sexy,' and a way to resist pressure to be efficient.
- Who
- Diners, restaurant owners, and hospitality services.
- What
- The changing of dinner times in the UK, with a rise in earlier dinner reservations.
- When
- Recent years, with data showing trends year-over-year.
- Where
- Primarily in London and across the UK.
- Why
- Due to factors like changes in work, health trends, and possibly adopting of American working hours.
Pro Early Dinner
Pro Late Dinner
Free Time
Pro Early Dinner
Offers more free time in the evenings.
Pro Late Dinner
Late dinners are viewed as more enjoyable.
Health vs. Pleasure
Pro Early Dinner
Supports a focus on health and wellness.
Pro Late Dinner
Dining late is 'sexy' and opposes the pressure to be efficient.
- 6pm Bookings Increase (London)
- 11% year-on-year
- 6pm Bookings Increase (UK)
- 6% year-on-year
- Average UK Dinner Time
- 6:12 pm
- 5pm Bookings Increase (London)
- 10% year-on-year