Recent data shows that going out early—between 5pm and 7pm—is now the most lucrative period for UK hospitality, surpassing the traditional 7pm-10pm evening slot.

According to the Night Time Economy Market Monitor, the UK’s late-night hospitality sector has shrunk by 4.6% in the past year, as factors like rising costs, safety apprehensions, and unreliable late-night transport discourage people from heading out later.

Moreover, the analysis by CGA (via NIQ) and the Night Time Industries Association indicates that the industry has suffered a 28% decline since March 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns forced widespread closures.

Additional insights from the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker (September) highlight this shift: drink-led pubs, which often close earlier, saw a 2.5% year-on-year increase, while bars, more associated with late-night trade, experienced a steep 6.8% drop.

Consumer sentiment also reveals the underlying reasons. About 24% of people say security influences whether they go out at night, and 28% mention transport home as a factor. These concerns are pushing people to start their evenings earlier, leaving nightclubs and late-night bars emptier after midnight.

A study by Zonal and CGA (NIQ) earlier in the year found that 6.12pm is now the average preferred time for dinner bookings—quite a shift from the old 8pm standard.

A survey of 5,000 British adults showed that in Q1 2025, 48% of restaurant reservations were made for tables between 12pm and 6pm, up from 46% in 2024, while only 2% of bookings were for after 9pm.

When asked why they were dining earlier, 37% of people said it was more “convenient,” 22% said it made booking easier, 16% liked shorter waiting times, and 18% mentioned better public transport.

The downturn in late-night trade is becoming a real problem. As costs rise and consumer habits change, many in the sector are calling for government support. Mike Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, argues that the late-night economy is a vital part of Britain’s cultural and economic life, but it’s being “systematically squeezed.”

Reuben Pullan, a senior insight consultant at CGA by NIQ, adds that while consumers still want to go out, the demand is shifting, not disappearing. He warns that without support, more closures could follow into 2026, despite the anticipated boost from the Christmas and New Year period.