toptable research reveals Brits spend over 2 working days planning and delivering their perfect Christmas celebration.
British families are spending less time with each other and more in the kitchen and supermarket, according to a Christmas survey by the leading online consumer destination for restaurant bookings in the UK, toptable.com
Despite Christmas being traditionally earmarked as a time to spend with the family, more hours are being spent planning festive celebrations and doing the chores. Over half (51%) of respondents admitted spending up to five hours planning the Christmas dinner, with a further 42% saying they will commit to three or four hours preparing and cooking the meal for the family, rather than spending time with them. In fact, nearly one in two (46%) also owned up to doing the cleaning for two hours instead of sitting down with their loved ones.
Supermarkets are also popular attractions for families as over a third of respondents (36%) confessed to trawling the shops for approximately four hours to make sure they have planned every mealtime. What’s more, one in five (19%) even tend to miss their family arriving for Christmas altogether, as they are too busy with festive chores.
The number of people catered for over the holidays can also have a big effect on the amount of work required. The study revealed that over a third (35%) of hosts tend to cater for an average of eight different people over the Christmas period, with a further one in three (33%) families arguing about a lack of helpers with the festive preparations!
Head of restaurant relations at toptable, Lucy Taylor says: “We know that Christmas can be an extremely busy time for families and sometimes you forget what the holiday is all about – spending time with them. Families can save hours of stress by taking time out and booking a local restaurant over the festive period.”
To book your Christmas fun for all the family, go to toptable.com