Dining alone in pubs on the rise due to wifi availability

The report from O2 Wifi found that 53% of those polled are happy to eat and drink alone as long as they have internet access to check emails, read news or connect with friends on social networking sites.

Furthermore, 58% of people say they are more comfortable spending time in public alone now that round-the-clock internet access means they can log into social media. The report found that internet connectivity is determining where Britons are choosing to visit on their own.

People now rank the availability of wifi above the atmosphere of a venue to the extent that 14% of people insist wifi access is crucial for them to consider entering a pub, bar or restaurant and 10% have changed venue due to a lack of access. One in five respondents said they feel frustrated or angry towards venues that do not offer free wifi.

"Britons tell us that being able to access the internet in their local cafes or bars is a liberating experience," said O2 Wifi managing director Gavin Franks. "Gone are the days when you have to twiddle your thumbs or bury your head in a book if you found yourself dining alone.

"Fast, reliable and free wifi in the places we hang out enables us to spend more time in the venue doing the things we enjoy – be that updating, posting, blogging, booking, buying or even just reading."

O2 statistics reveal that Britons plug into public wifi an average of nine times each week with people unimpressed with having to sign in with a user name and password.