Third of adults ready for restaurants' return

Consumer confidence in the UK's hospitality industry is rising according to new research, with a third of adults planning to return to restaurants as soon as they open.  

That figure is almost double the number from when operating restrictions on the sector were first lifted in July 2020. 

The Covid-safe measures hospitality venues put in place during last summer are likely to be a driving factor in this increase.

The findings, from order-and-pay solution Wi5, also reveal that when restrictions were lifted in summer 2020, UK consumers reported feeling safer in restaurants and pubs than they did in department stores and shopping centres.

"Last summer, operators went above-and-beyond to put measures in place to protect their staff and customers," comments Prask Sutton, founder and CEO of Wi5.

"From increased cleaning and sanitation, to protective screens and mobile order-and-pay; it all makes customers that much more confident about returning to their favourite haunts sooner than they did back in July 20201.

"As soon as it’s safe to open, hospitality operators should feel justifiably confident that their customers will be there to support them.”