The Taste of the Nightlife

With fewer nightclubs in operation, restaurateurs are seizing the opportunity to step in and satisfy the late-night crowd. In city centres such as London, Manchester and Edinburgh, evening footfall from tourists, theatregoers and young adults is still thriving, and for these operators, late night dining can be a useful way to earn additional revenue when daytime trade is quiet.

Jane Pendlebury, CEO of the Hospitality Professionals Association Comments:

Jane Pendlebury, CEO of the Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA), says, “As younger generations embrace a less alcohol dependent social scene, dining late into the evening offers social connection without the hangover. There’s also some
Mediterranean influence at play. Diners arebecoming more open to the idea that eating later can feel sociable and relaxed, rather
than simply functional.”atmosphere. A restaurant that still feels alive later in the evening can become part of the night-time economy, rather than somewhere guests visit before moving on elsewhere.”

Xiaoxiao Wang is founder of Noodle & Beer, which opened a branch in Chinatown last year. “Our Chinatown site was granted
a licence allowing us to trade into the early hours. Not every location has that opportunity, as it depends on planning permission and licensing.”

Noodle & Beer’s location in Chinatown is ideally suited to late night trading. “As we’re surrounded by bars, clubs and entertainment venues, it means we see a constant flow of customers late at night,” he says. “It’s not unusual to have people queuing to get in at 3am after a night out. It’s amazing to see that there’s still such strong demand for freshly cooked food at that time of night. Our signature Super King Braised Beef Noodle is the most popular late-night order.”

Reliable Security

Security is the biggest challenge. “Our team deals with every type of customer, and they do an incredible job of keeping the restaurant welcoming, safe and running smoothly. Our staff are the backbone of our late night operation and none of this would be possible without them.”

His advice for any restaurants considering late-night opening is to make sure the right team is in place and invest in reliable security. “Remember that operating late into the night can be significantly more expensive because of higher staffing and
operating costs, so make sure you’ve planned your budget carefully before extending your hours,” he says.

As a way of boosting bookings after 9pm, several restaurants have introduced incentives. Hawksmoor restaurants in Liverpool,
Manchester, Edinburgh and London offer a “Steak After Eight” promotion to encourage diners to stay out later, and The Duck & Waffle in Edinburgh has launched a ‘9pm Club’ offering 25% off food and drink after 9pm.

There are many benefits for restaurants staying open late. It can increase revenue as customers staying longer may order extra
food and drink, but it can also open up new customer segments such as theatregoers, workers finishing shifts and tourists accustomed to later dining hours.

Jane from HOSPA says, “The main benefit is better use of capacity. Prime-time tables are finite, but if a restaurant can extend demand beyond the traditional dinner window, it can increase revenue without necessarily needing more space. It can also help create a stronger