Friends and family: not the same thing

Those going out with friends are more likely to choose a high street casual dining chain or bar, while pub restaurants are more likely to be the venue for a family gathering, it seems.

The brands with the highest proportion of customers saying they choose them for going out with friends are O’Neill’s, Wagamama, All Bar One, Carluccio’s and Zizzi. In contrast, Hungry Horse, Crown Carvery, Toby, Brewers Fayre and Harvester are the chains with the highest proportion of customers saying they choose them for a family meal—with Pizza Hut close behind.

That may say something about the style of operations or the value they offer—as the top family choices are all leaders in the value stakes too. It might also imply that younger, middle class people are more likely
to go out with ‘mates’ to eat, while older more mid-market consumers , who are more likely to use pub restaurants, are more family orientated.
The next most popular occasion to eat out is with a partner or spouse, but the choices there are more mixed.

The brands that get the highest proportion of their business from special celebratory meals are, according to the research, Loch Fyne, Jamie’s Italian, TGI Fridays, Frankie & Benny’s and Strada. When it comes to finding somewhere to eat before going on somewhere else, such as the cinema, Nando’s and Wagamama head the list. For a ‘quick bite’, sandwich and coffee chains lead the way, with Greggs on top, while for those with ‘no time to cook’, fast food brands are most likely to fill the gap.

Britain's most popular pub and casual dining brands
(% of adults who have visited in past six months)
Wetherspoon's 40%
Pizza Hut 32%
Harvester 27%
Pizza Express 23%
Nando's 23%
Frankie & Benny's 23%
Brewers Fayre 16%
Toby 15%
Beefeater 14%
TGI Friday's 11%
Source: Peach BrandTrack, February 2012