Lovely Jub-ilee: OpenTable reveals British foodie favourites ahead of the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend
- New research from OpenTable reveals that, according to 54%1 of the nation, the pronunciation of Scone as S-cone is correct
- Pub grub (22%) is set to be a firm favourite when looking at how the nation plans to eat this Bank Holiday
- Reservations data from OpenTable finds a 65%2 increase in reservations over the Jubilee Weekend compared to the same period in 2019
LONDON, June 2022: Ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, OpenTable, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations, reveals the food and dining trends that will put the ‘eat’ in Great Britain this Bank Holiday weekend.
The new research reveals once and for all how Brits pronounce the word “scone”. Resolving the divisive issue, OpenTable has found that S-cone comes out on top, as opposed to Scon, with just over half (54%) of the nation favouring this pronunciation. The online restaurant reservation service has also resolved a second hotly debated conundrum, finding that the majority of Brits (62%) prefer the Cornish method of jam followed by cream as the correct way to layer the scone toppings.
Brits can’t wait to celebrate by dining out this Jubilee Weekend, with over half (59%) of consumers stating a meal at a restaurant or pub is on the cards, furthermore reservations data on the booking platform shows a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2019.
OpenTable also finds that the average diner is set to spend £84 on food and drink over the Jubilee Weekend. Stoke on Trent in particular plan to celebrate, with an average estimated spend of £149 per person, while Londoners settle at £102 each. Of those celebrating this Jubilee weekend, the majority will be seen with a glass of prosecco in hand with a third (33%) choosing this as their tipple of choice.
Pub grub is set to be a firm favourite when dining over the Jubilee weekend, with one in five (22%) planning for a classically British Bank Holiday Weekend. However, research from OpenTable has found that Brits are more than happy for British cuisine to be influenced by the diverse range of cultures that make up the UK’s population, with two-thirds (66%) stating that the nation’s diversity has elevated traditional British food.
When looking at food trends, sweet treats are a popular choice, with the Victoria Sponge reigning supreme in the battle of Britain’s favourite Royal foods. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of the nation prefer the indulgent British staple over dishes such as the Margherita Pizza (39%), Coronation Chicken (29%) and Battenberg cake (25%).
Those looking to dine over the Bank Holiday need look no further for brilliant restaurants than Tower of London resident Tom Houghton’s (@honorabletom) top picks for the Queen’s Jubilee. Diners with dogs are also in luck, as corgi pup and renowned food critic, Marcel (@lecorgi) shares his favourite dog-friendly spots.
For Tom Houghton’s list of top picks, please visit https://www.opentable.co.uk/lists/honourable-tom-top-10. To see Marcel’s favourite dog-friendly restaurants, please visit https://www.opentable.co.uk/lists/le-corgi-dog-friendly.
-ENDS-
For more information or to talk to an OpenTable spokesperson please contact:
opentable@wcommuncations.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
1According to a Perspectus Global survey of 1,500 people, representative of UK adult population age split, carried out in the UK between 11/05/2022 and 12/05/2022
2According to internal data from OpenTable based on online reservations between 02/06 and 05/06 in 2022, booked on or before 20/05/2022, compared to the corresponding weekend three years earlier, between 06/06 and 09/06 in 2019, booked on or before 24/05/2019.
About OpenTable:
OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), connects more than 1 billion people with restaurants every year, helping power hospitality at more than 50,000 restaurants, bars, wineries, and other venues in more than 80 countries. With software that drives reservations, experiences, payments, guest insights and operations, OpenTable enables restaurants to run their most successful business yet.
Additional Data
- Nearly two-thirds (58%)1 of respondents think a traditional British meal involves chips or potatoes
- Dishes such as roast dinner (52%), beans on toast (45%) and fish fingers and chips (44%) are all meals noted to take Brits back to their childhood
- The majority of diners are planning to eat British this Jubilee Weekend, with nearly two thirds (32%)2 planning to enjoy British or Contemporary British cuisine
- The ultimate British summer tipple has also been revealed, with Pimm’s taking the top spot (40%), over a pint (28%) and cider (27%)
- Surprisingly, the nation looks to the States for their drink of choice when dining out, with Coca Cola voted the most popular summer drink when eating at a pub or restaurant. Over a third (38%) chose the fizzy drink as their beverage of choice, with cider (36%), beer (30%) and gin and tonic (20%) following closely behind
Notes to Editors:
1According to a Perspectus Global survey of 1,500 people, representative of UK adult population age split, carried out in the UK between 11/05/2022 and 12/05/2022
2According to internal data from OpenTable based on online reservations between 02/06 and 05/06 in 2022, booked on or before 20/05/2022, compared to the corresponding weekend three years earlier, between 06/06 and 09/06 in 2019, booked on or before 24/05/2019.