How the cost of living changed the way we eat out - podcast

“The problem we have right now in restaurants is that with the increased rents, the increased rates, the increased heating bills, fuel bills, the money ends up going into the price of the food,” the Guardian’s restaurants critic and Comfort Eating podcast host Grace Dent tells Nosheen Iqbal. “People are just getting incredible shocks now when they open up the menu.”

The restaurants that managed to survive the Covid pandemic lockdowns are now operating in a challenging economic climate – but so are their customers. How are restaurants adapting and what do consumers want from their eating out experience in 2024?

Journalist Tony Naylor has been reporting on how pizza conquered the UK, and why it seems to be so resilient during recessions. He tells us why this dish has such enduring appeal.