Price of pub meal up 6%, menus more creative
The average price of a three-course pub meal has risen 6% to £15.74 in the last year.
Research from market analysts Horizon, showed that while menus are becoming more adventurous, the average price of a meal is slowly rising.
Since January 2009, the average price of a three-course restaurant meal rose 5.1% to £20.47 and a hotel meal rose 6.6% to £28.20.
The average cost of a starter has risen 8% to £5.27, a main course has increased 1.4% to £8.98 and a dessert by 11.9% to £4.53.
Horizons' managing director Peter Backman forecast that the eating out market would grow modestly over the next 18 months, rising an estimated £850m to 42.8bn. But he said it would take until the end of 2011 to reach 2008 levels.
"Despite uncertainty about the economy and the election outcome, consumers are still eating out, although they are clearly spending less than they did," he said.
"Operators are going to have to perform better than customers expect in order to improve trading.
"However, the Olympic Games in 2012 could bring an additional £145m in revenue to the hospitality sector."
Menu trends
Further research highlighted the imaginative marketing techniques being used to draw customers in.
There is an increase in super-sizing meals, such as Marston's "go large for £1" on its carvery, "go large with your chips for 35p" at Beefeater, and "add an extra egg" on gammon & chips at Punch managed pubs.
Brands are also becoming more commonplace on menus, particularly in pubs, as operators seek to assure customers of quality. Examples include Heinz Baked Beans at Little Chef and Movenpick ice cream at Exchange Bar & Grill.
Provenance terms such as "rope grown British mussels" and terms such as "farm assured" and health related claims, such as "5-a-day", are also becoming more commonplace on menus.
Exotic sounding dishes are also more frequently on menus too, as chains attempt to offer something new. Barracuda's Varsity has a dish called "dirty dog's dinner", served in a dog's bowl (sausages, smokey bacon, chips and beans).
Blubeckers sells chips with Bloody Mary Ketchup, Scream has Quorn and Chianti lasagne while Las Iguanas has brie and papaya quesadilla.
