Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Londoners expected to spend average '£352 on Christmas lunch'

Londoners expected to spend average '£352 on Christmas lunch'
iStock image

Londoners are expected to spend an average of £352 on ingredients for Christmas lunch, festive snacks and nibbles, and all their drinks (both alcoholic and not) for the festive period, forecasts a new survey.

According to the survey of 2,000 Brits conducted by Very, Londoners are planning on spending more than £930 in preparation for Christmas this year, more than any other region in the country. The biggest spend Londoners will make is on food, expected to spend an average of £352 on ingredients for Christmas lunch, festive snacks and nibbles, and all their drinks (both alcoholic and not) for the festive period.


Those living in Greater London are also expected to spend around £306 on Christmas decorations for both inside and outside their homes, including a Christmas tree, door wreaths, and table decorations and centre pieces. Other expenses include board games (£72), Christmas crackers and party favours (£66) and tableware for serving guests (£72).

Following London in the big spender stakes are Northern Ireland and those in the North East. Christmas planning in Northern Ireland is expected to cost £800 on average, while in the North East, spend will average £768 across food, decorations and party supplies.

Those living in Yorkshire & the Humber are expected to spend the least on Christmas prep this year, an average of £562 in total. This includes an average spend of £157 on Christmas decorations, £261 on festive food and drinks, and £143 on things like craft supplies and tableware, reveals the survey.

Insights show that more than a third (39 per cent) of Brits plan to host some sort of Christmas event for friends and family, whether that be Christmas day lunch, a Christmas Eve cocktail party, or a Boxing Day buffet.

Those aged 25-34 are the most likely to host a Christmas event this year, with 56 per cent saying they are already planning for their event, followed by those aged 16-24 (47 per cent) and 35-44s (43 per cent), while over 55s are the least likely to host this year (30 per cent).

But while hosting might sound like a nice offer, it also seems to come with certain worries. Eight of the top 10 Christmas conundrums experienced by Brits centre around food – whether it’s balancing cooking times (28 per cent), cooking Christmas lunch (25 per cent), getting the perfect crisp on their roast potatoes (23 per cent), or simply not having enough food to feed everyone (23 per cent).

More for you

New Chair elected for Cross Party Group on small shops

New Chair elected for Cross Party Group on small shops

Russell George MS has been elected as the new Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Small Shops, succeeding Vikki Howells MS.

The decision was taken during the CPG's annual general meeting held on Wednesday (6). The meeting also saw discussion over the important role of access to cash in local communities.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carlsberg Zero

C-stores can boost beer sales by understanding customers' ‘beersonas’

Shopping for beer between Monday and Wednesday is far more common than many might expect, with almost one third of beer shoppers making their purchases on these days of the week, reveals new data published by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC).

CMBC is sharing its new ‘Beersonas’ – its take on beer consumer profiles – which have been designed to help convenience store owners understand more about their beer shoppers and cater more effectively to their needs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pre-festive deals boosted food sales in otherwise 'disappointing' October

iStock image

Pre-festive deals boosted food sales in otherwise 'disappointing' October

Arrival of customary "pre-festive" deals boosted food sales though overall sales suffered in October as cash-strapped shoppers stayed at home, holding off purchases amid uncertainty over the budget and fears over rising energy bills.

According to data from the British Retail Consortium and the consultancy KPMG published today (5), sales increased by 0.6 per cent compared with October 2023, less than half the three-month average growth rate of 1.3 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Minor dip in footfall ahead of Golden Quarter
Hollie Adams/Getty Images
Getty Images

Minor dip in footfall ahead of Golden Quarter

October’s footfall figures declined marginally as compared to last year, shows latest industry data, highlighting concerns for a policy environment that supports growth and investment.

According to data by British Retail Consortium (BRC), total UK footfall decreased by 1.1 per cent in October (YoY), down from +3.3 per cent in September. High Street footfall decreased by 3.6 per cent in October (YoY), down from +0.9 per cent in September.

Keep ReadingShow less
iStock 670818086

Rise of the lighter shopper: shift in buying benefits convenience

The latest findings highlighted by Lumina Intelligence Convenience Tracking Programme reveal a shift towards lighter shopping trips, the impact of weather on daytime meal occasions, and strategic growth in forecourt impulse purchases driven by expanded meal deal offerings.

The Convenience Tracking Programme has uncovered significant shifts in the UK's convenience shopping landscape, indicating a continued rise in market penetration with a notable trend towards "lighter" shopping. The number of shoppers in the market has grown, with an impressive +2.8 percentage point increase in year-on-year penetration. Managed convenience channels are driving much of this growth, reflecting heightened consumer interest in convenience store options.

Keep ReadingShow less