- A growing preference for dining outside: 2025 OpenTable data reveals that 60% of diners in the UK choose outdoor seating when conditions are favourable.
- Online interest continues to climb: Google searches for “beer gardens” increased by 172% between 2022 and 2024, indicating widespread enthusiasm for alfresco venues.
- Restaurants evolve to meet year-round demand: Many establishments are enhancing outdoor areas with heaters, shelter, lighting, and adaptable layouts to extend outdoor dining beyond summer.
Outdoor dining is becoming a staple of British dining culture rather than a seasonal trend. Recent data from OpenTable in 2025 shows that approximately 60% of UK diners prefer to sit outdoors when the weather permits.
Online behaviour mirrors this shift. Across the UK, monthly Google searches for “beer gardens” rose by 172% between 2022 and 2024, pointing to an increased desire among diners to seek out welcoming outdoor spaces.
The OpenTable survey found that diners prioritise comfort, atmosphere, views, and the overall design of outdoor areas when choosing where to eat. Restaurants around the country are adapting accordingly, upgrading outdoor seating so it remains appealing throughout the year.
Lucia, a wine bar and restaurant in York recognised on OpenTable’s Top 100 Outdoor Restaurants 2025 list, has seen this trend reflected in its own guests’ preferences. Marketing manager Georgina Pellant notes:
“The OpenTable survey really reflects what we’ve been seeing at Lucia,” she says. “About 60% of diners saying they prefer outdoor seating mirrors our own experience. Even on colder or overcast days, people are choosing to sit outside.
“It’s clear that alfresco dining has become a year-round expectation, and restaurants looking to meet this demand are increasingly investing in covered areas, heating, and lighting to make outdoor spaces comfortable throughout the year.”
This shift has roots in post-pandemic dining habits, when outdoor seating became a safe and enjoyable alternative. While national year-round statistics remain limited, OpenTable analytics, search behaviour, and feedback from restaurants like Lucia all suggest that alfresco dining is growing steadily across the UK.
For many diners, outdoor seating has become a deciding factor when planning meals, regardless of the season. Couples, families, and groups frequently look for venues with engaging outdoor spaces, prompting restaurants to redesign layouts, introduce warm lighting, add protective structures, and tailor menus seasonally.
Some venues are even expanding outdoor offerings into winter. Lucia, for example, is launching a “winter garden” dining concept this December, highlighting the shift towards extending outdoor dining well beyond the warmer months.
For restaurants such as Lucia, this evolving landscape shows that outdoor dining has moved from a seasonal luxury to a core part of the dining experience — reflecting broader cultural change rather than a passing trend.