An increasing number of families are opting to take the stress out of Christmas this year by choosing to dine out, according to Bookatable.co.uk which has reported a 63 percent year on year spike in Christmas Day bookings to its restaurants nationwide.
251% increase in bookings
In the last four years, Bookatable has seen an 251% increase in Christmas bookings from 2011 to 2015, showing Brits are turning to restaurants at Christmas to help them spend proper quality time as a family. As it stands, the majority of Brits (70%) who cook on Christmas Day spend between 3-5 hours in the kitchen away from family and friends, and when the festivities are over, 78% spend up to three hours tidying up.
Following the findings, the restaurant booking platform commissioned a study investigating this significant shift towards dining out on Christmas Day – something that was rarely considered in past generations. Reflecting Bookatable’s own Christmas bookings surge, 14 million Brits (23%) have eaten out on Christmas Day and a further 35% are considering dining out on Christmas Day in the future.
Bookatable’s research also shows that the stress associated with the season is not just confined to Christmas Day itself. Almost a fifth (18%) of Brits begin preparing for Christmas months in advance, during the summer or even earlier, with a third of these (6%) starting to think about Christmas as soon as Christmas the previous year is over. In line with this, and in addition to an increase in Christmas Day bookings, Bookatable has also seen a growing YOY trend in bookings for both Christmas Eve (42%) and Boxing Day (20%) – also noted by the OXO Tower who open on these days in December.
Time and cost
Contrary to Christmas being the season of good will, it’s not just time but also money that stings. A fifth (21%) of Brits host Christmas Dinner each year and as a result, feel out of pocket. 87% feel they buy too much food that goes to waste as well as ingredients that are not used at any other time of the year. Over eight million Brits (13%) spend at least £500 on food for Christmas Dinner, and one in four (38%) cater for special dietary requirements when cooking Christmas Dinner, including food intolerances and fussy eaters.
Spending quality time together
In the light of these festive stresses, Brits are turning to restaurants at Christmas to help them spend proper quality time as a family. Dining out in restaurants removes the often more costly and time consuming elements of the day, allowing families to spend this time together. Over a third (34%) of British families felt that sitting down to Christmas Dinner is the only time they get to spend real quality time together. When asked about how often they ate together during the rest of the year, half (49%) of Brits admitted to never or rarely eating together as a family.
‘Chef’s Secrets’ Guide
Based on the findings, the restaurant booking platform has been inspired to launch a campaign which aims to spread festive joy and help families focus on what’s most important – enjoying good food and great company! By collaborating with some of its top Chefs, Bookatable.co.uk has developed a festive ‘Chef’s Secrets’ Guide full of shortcuts and tips to help take the stress out of preparing a festive feast as well as a comprehensive restaurant guide.
Joe Steele, CEO of Bookatable.co.uk, commented:“To help spread some Christmas cheer, we have curated some of the best festive menus from across the country on our website, along with a free downloadable guide created in collaboration with our top chefs who have shared their expertise and insight to help everyone have a smooth and enjoyable Christmas.”
Those looking to book their Christmas dinner, visit here and download the free Chef’s Secrets Guide.
