Diners waste almost a day per year waiting to be seated at restaurants

– The average time spent queuing for a table at a restaurant with a no booking policy is 27 minutes

– British diners waste 21 hours a year – almost two months over a lifetime – queuing to be seated at restaurants

– Almost 20% say the first thing they do after getting a table is sit down feeling annoyed at having to wait so long

London, April 21st 2015… Renowned for forming an orderly queue whenever the need arises, Brits certainly aren’t ones for pushing in line. In fact, the art of queuing is seen by many across the globe as one of the country’s most common traits, and new research by OpenTable has revealed that Brits are undeniably living up to this stereotype.

Research,1 released today by the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations, has discovered that the average time spent queuing for a table at a restaurant with a no booking policy is 27 minutes – making up a quarter of the customers’ full dining experience.

With Brits on average eating out at least once a week, 89% of the time at a restaurant with a no booking policy, the tradition of patiently waiting in line means 21 hours of precious time is squandered each year, amounting to 55 days – almost two months – over a lifetime.2

The OpenTable research went on to reveal that almost 1 in 5 British diners think that restaurants with a no booking policy are annoying and almost 70% of Brits report that not being able to book at a restaurant doesn’t make it feel exclusive or high-end in any way.

Having to queue so long for a table can in fact have a negative effect on the dining experience – almost 20% of those surveyed admit the first thing they do after finally getting a table at a no booking policy restaurant is sit down feeling annoyed at having to wait so long.

Londoners are most likely (57%) to make a reservation before going out for a meal. Northern Ireland diners appear to be more accepting when it comes to having to wait for a table with 61% admitting they never book before dining out.

The Welsh seem to be the most patient among us, with residents admitting they are willing to wait almost 19 minutes for a table. Those in the East Midlands are not so patient, stating they would only be willing to wait for 16 minutes before abandoning the queue.

Mike Xenakis, Managing Director at OpenTable comments, “Most people in the UK lead busy lives and don’t want to waste valuable time queuing for a seat at a restaurant. Booking your table in advance eliminates the chance of having to queue which means you can spend more time enjoying the important things – great food, great atmosphere and great company.”

To reduce the amount of time you waste standing in queues, book your table quickly and easily via the OpenTable app or online at www.opentable.co.uk