Online bookings rise as dining out hits 7-year low
- Added:
- May 30, 2008
New figures released by the CBI show that dining out has fallen to a seven-year low – but restaurants that have embraced online bookings are bucking the trend, according to toptable.com.
The number of people booking through toptable has soared 100 per cent in the last year, despite the credit crunch. The increase in the profile of TV chef’s such as Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver has sparked an appetite for
good food at affordable prices.
The figures come in contrast to the CBI research, which shows that the volume of business for the consumer services sector has fallen sharply in the last three months, with the balance of 44 per cent the lowest since November 2001.
Michelle Smith, editor of toptable.com, said: “In spite of the credit crunch, diners seem to be continuing to make the most of what the UK’s gastronomic scene has to offer.
“However, there is no hiding from the fact that this is a time of economic instability and personal finances are becoming more and more stretched.
This means we’re seeing a real increase in appetite for services like toptable.com that can allow consumers the luxury of eating out for less.
“Money is undeniably tighter for many diners, so they’re becoming more choosy about where they eat and how much they pay for it. toptable.com provides a unique resource for finding the best restaurants at the best price, and we’re expecting to see continued demand for the service going forward.”