Cost of dining out rises faster than inflation

Analysis of menus across 115 high street brands reveals that prices rose by 7.5 per cent during 2010 as operators passed on costs to diners.

The price of an average starter has reached £5.12, a main course now costs £9.63 and a dessert £4.29, said food service consultancy Horizons.

The average price of a three-course adult meal rose to £18.94 in 2010, up from £18.03 in 2009 – a 5.1 per cent rise year-on-year.

“This hike in menu prices suggests that while food ingredients may be cheaper in the short-term, taking the year as a whole the trend is that costs are still rising and operators are having to factor this in to their menu prices,” said Horizons.

“There will also be an element of raising menu prices to pay for the widening use of discounts and money-off vouchers.

“Operators are trying to maintain their margins by using their buying power to keep cost pressures under control and re-engineering menus to bring average costs down.”

Horizons said prices are likely to have risen again in 2011.