Nearly 4 in 10 Brits are cutting back on dining out, survey finds

Roughly eight in 10 diners believe restaurant prices have gone up over the last year.

Thirty-eight percent of British diners say they’re eating out less often than before, according to YouGov’s Great Britain Dining Out 2025 report. 

That figure climbs to 46% amongst people on lower incomes, 36% amongst middle-income earners, and 29% amongst higher-income groups.

The findings suggest more consumers are cutting back, largely for financial reasons.

Roughly eight in 10 diners believe restaurants prices have gone up over the last year.

Older demographics, particularly Baby Boomers and above, are most likely to say prices have risen noticeably.

Younger adults are somewhat less convinced, with 12% of Millennials saying prices haven’t increased, compared with 8% of the general population.

Six in 10 people who are cutting back on eating out cite rising restaurant prices, and a similar share point to the broader cost-of-living pressures. Nearly half say they are trying to save money.

Close to half of diners say current restaurant prices don’t feel fair.

Higher-income diners are more likely to think prices are reasonable, but that view falls to 35% amongst lower-income groups.

Three in 10 diners say restaurants are charging too much for the quality offered.

Separately, the Food and Drink Federation projects food inflation to reach 5.7% by December 2025 before easing to 3.1% in late 2026.

The organisation says regulatory costs are now the main force behind inflation in food and non-alcoholic drinks, adding to weak consumer demand and ongoing pressure on margins across the sector.