OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology, has released its 2022 data on the nation's dining habits. The news is positive for restaurants across the UK with the data showing that the number of seated diners has increased by 50% since 2021, with a 19% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019. A further snapshot of 2022’s dining scene can be found below: • Valentine’s Day saw the biggest increase in seated diners (+137%) since pre-pandemic, with numbers more than double their 2019 levels. • Sheffield and Southampton are named as the UK’s top emerging dining destinations1. Seeing an increase of +210% and 156% respectively in seated diners since 2019 o Followed by Edinburgh (+136%), Windsor (+134%) and Bolton (+133%) • 148 different cuisines were enjoyed by OpenTable diners in 20222 , of these British, Contemporary British and Italian proved most popular • Vietnamese (+197%) and Irish (+185%) named top trending cuisines since 2019, both seeing increases in seated diners3 o Brazilian Steakhouse (+98%), Contemporary Italian (+64%) and Turkish (+57%) help to form 2022’s top five trending cuisines • Diners turn to technology as those with an online reservation increased by 56%, whereas diners with phone bookings decrease by 10%, compared to 2019 Lucy Taylor, VP, EMEA, OpenTable commented, “The UK dining industry continues to face a number of headwinds such as increasing costs and staffing challenges, but the latest OpenTable data shows that diners remain committed to dining out, supporting restaurants and experiencing what this diverse and creative industry has to offer. “After the tough conditions of the pandemic, it’s reassuring that reservations are increasing and cities across the UK are emerging as new gastronomic destinations. At OpenTable, we are committed to showcasing the fantastic options the hospitality industry has to offer. 'So whilst we know restaurateurs are still facing challenges, we remain optimistic for 2023.” (source: https://www.opentable.co.uk/, image: pexels)