Why do restaurants and takeaways close so early now?

Do they ? Here in Wales, they’re open till about 11pm, I’m sure.

Round here, food outlets seem to shut at 9PM.

Desdemona

I don't eat out much nowadays, and if I have a takeaway it is usually early in the evening.

But I remember when I was younger bing

Not enough customers to cover wages, energy costs, business rates. Simply put, they can’t afford too 😥

We used to go to the fish shop or for a kebab after the pubs closed too.
People (even young people) don't go to the pub as much now though - if they're dancing they'll go on to the early hours - if it's coffees they won't get "the munchies" - so maybe the market's not there anymore.

It depends on the area, in the residential areas it's early closing , in town centres there are usually a few open late. Not as many as in the past, when there were more cinema and pub goers.
More drink at home and order a takeaway.

You're right; we used to spend the evening in the pub then, at closing time, nip into the fish and chip shop for a fish supper to take home. There was always a long queue and you had to shout out what fish you wanted so that it was cooked by the time you'd reached the counter. My local chippy closes at 8 o'clock now and there's never a queue.

There are 24 hour KFC’s & McDonalds on the outskirts of our town but not in residential areas, on retail parks.
They are no use to people who walk home from the pub but plenty who drive around in cars use them.

There has been a shortage of chefs for the last few years, so chefs can name their rate and hours, causing many restaurants to close earlier and open fewer days a week than they used to.

We eat out quite often, usually early evening so closing around 9.30 doesn’t bother us.
It’s good for those in the hospitality industry. In the past we have known youngsters apprenticed to well known chefs having to get taxis late at night.

Perhaps it’s because there are companies like Deliveroo who deliver to your home now. We’ve never used them as we still use takeaways but I know the younger generation seem to use them.

Yes. I've noticed when abroad that the final service is around 9 pm when most restaurants here are closing up at that time.

I think it depends on the location. We lived near a busy tourist town in the NW of England for a long time. Magnet for hen and stag parties and most takeaway outlets were open until around 1am.
Here in our much quieter Scottish city, 9/10 pm seems to be the norm.

People can’t afford it now. We used to go out to cinema, theatre, club or pub then go and have a curry about 11pm and it was affordable. Not any more! You’re lucky to get anything after about 9pm as it’s not worth the takeaways and restaurants staying open any later.

Meant to say …. Food is so expensive now too. Yesterday I was in Tesco and picked up a modest piece of beef which was reduced - to £17.54! No way would I pay that for a small piece of meat. My shopping bill has soared in the past 12-18 months.

I think it depends on your location London is still open all hours as are other busy cities.

I was out with a friend a few weeks ago and still in the restaurant at midnight on a Thursday.

GrannyGravy13

I think it depends on your location London is still open all hours as are other busy cities.

I was out with a friend a few weeks ago and still in the restaurant at midnight on a Thursday.

Yes. It's weird, that here in the west, Devon, everyone appears to go to bed at 6 pm, yet the sun sets here later!?
(Slight exaggeration, but the comparison is noticeable).

MartavTaurus

GrannyGravy13

I think it depends on your location London is still open all hours as are other busy cities.

I was out with a friend a few weeks ago and still in the restaurant at midnight on a Thursday.

Yes. It's weird, that here in the west, Devon, everyone appears to go to bed at 6 pm, yet the sun sets here later!?
(Slight exaggeration, but the comparison is noticeable).

The restaurant was the local Malayan, reservations are like gold dust, food is excellent.

In our semi rural village the chippie closes at 9:30, the Indian takeaway 11.

The very good kebab shop in the nearest town to where I live stays open late, but the fish and chip shops close at about nine. We had fish and chips a few weeks ago, and it was £16 each, so I suspect most people who are eating late at night consider that is too steep a price to pay for food on the way home from a night out?

It's similar here in Germany. I don't know if it's because we're older, but since Covid we've started reserving tables for 6 pm whereas before, it was usual to meet for dinner at 7.30 or 8 pm.

petra

Desdemona

I don't eat out much nowadays, and if I have a takeaway it is usually early in the evening.

But I remember when I was younger bing

Not enough customers to cover wages, energy costs, business rates. Simply put, they can’t afford too 😥

You beat me to it!

I would love to have dinner at 8.30 or 9pm sometimes.

I can get an Indian meal at that time some days of the week but nothing else locally. Not even the Italian unless it's a weekend.

Also, it's often a Monday when we fancy a meal out. SO many places are closed altogether on a Monday!

I know times are tough (post covid) in hospitality.
😕

Yes, I remember those days! My dad and my older brothers usually came home with fish and chips when they had been to the pub. It was a normal thing to do, however, it wasn't a very healthy way to live really. Both my dad and one brother died fairly young, and the other brother went to live in Australia!
I don't have take-aways myself, and rarely go to the few chippies we have nearby.
Our local chippie closed during Covid and never re-opened...althought he local high street is full of fast-food places.
People are still storing up trouble for their long term health, it would seem...

I think it depends on your location . I’m London /Surrey border and restaurants and take aways close quite late . The pubs which serve food , stop taking orders at about 9.30 .
My AC both live in London and restaurants and fast food places are open very late