Cash-strapped customers eat out at pub

Pubs are the nation's favourite place for a sit-down meal, but consumers are more price conscious than ever, that's according to a new survey of 1,000 adults.

QuickBite, the eating out quarterly tracker conducted on behalf of market analyst Horizons, found encouraging signs that consumers are prepared to spend their money again with 68% of respondents saying they intended to eat out as often in the coming year as they had in the past.

But the survey also shows consumers are more price-conscious — more than half (54%) consider price more often than six months ago, and women are more cost conscious (57%) than men (50%).

Good news showed that the pub ranks in the top five favourite places to buy a meal, with 21% saying the pub is their preferred venue for a sit down meal.

Half of respondents said they spend less on alcohol when eating out, with women (54%) more likely than men (49%) to cut this spend. Some 28% say they order wine by the glass rather than the bottle to reduce costs.

"The results of the survey show the changing nature of consumer spending. While it seems people are continuing to eat out, they are looking for ways to reduce the cost, taking advantage of money-off vouchers and the heavy discounting going on amongst restaurant operators. They have also changed the things they are ordering in restaurants - sharing more, drinking wine by the glass and cutting out starters and desserts," said Paul Backman, Horizons' development executive.

The survey also shows 39% of consumers order fewer starters and desserts and more share dishes — 29% opt to share more frequently.