Lunchtime dining grows as UK workers return to the office
Weekday lunches are back on the agenda in the UK as diners increasingly step out for midday meals. New OpenTable data shows both higher footfall and higher spend, reflecting a shift in workplace and social culture.
With 41% of businesses increasing onsite working requirements over the past year, according to the British Chambers of Commerce, it seems natural that restaurant tables are filling more quickly during the day.
OpenTable data reveals weekday lunchtime dining (12pm to 3pm) across the UK rose by 4% between 1 January and 7 September 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. This uptick mirrors the return to in-person office attendance and the revival of the business lunch.
Business meals become more indulgent
The numbers also suggest that companies and clients are spending more freely on lunch. Diners are paying 8% more per person on business meals year over year, with the strongest growth in the £41+ bracket (+8% YoY) between 12pm and 3pm as per OpenTable data.
This indicates that the mid-day meeting has become an occasion for higher-value dining rather than the quick and functional lunch it once was.
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Weekdays show distinct patterns
Fridays have seen the largest rise in lunchtime bookings, with a 7% year-on-year increase, followed by Thursdays (+5%) and Wednesdays (+4%). Solo dining is also up significantly, with a 16% increase, suggesting that some workers are taking lunch breaks as personal time rather than purely social or professional encounters.
Sasha Shaker, senior director at OpenTable in the UK and Ireland, said: “Our recent data highlights a marked rise in UK weekday lunchtime dining, with diners also spending more on business meals. This uptick could reflect the growing popularity of in-person meetings and hybrid work, with the business lunch a key moment for teams to connect and collaborate.”
Changing dining rhythms
The lunchtime uplift arrives alongside a broader restructuring of UK dining habits. As reported by the drinks business, OpenTable and Zonal data show that Gen Z diners are driving earlier evening meals, with average booking time now 6.12pm.
Bookings at 6pm rose by 11% in London and by 6% across the UK year on year, while traditional 8pm sittings declined by 3%. Almost half of all reservations are now between midday and 6pm according to Zonal.
Industry observers link the shift to well-being, hybrid schedules and financial caution. Together with the renewed emphasis on midday dining, this suggests that UK restaurants must adapt to both earlier and more purposeful eating occasions.
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