According to a research, British people have grown out of feeling embarrassed when dining solo. People don't even feel weird seeing alone diners anymore, The Independent reports.
YouGov conducted a research on how modern people think about eating alone and how they perceive those who do.
87% of British diners claim that they don't have any problem eating in restaurants without company, as 42% of them say dining solo gives them a chance to enjoy their alone time.
In Wolverhampton, 76% of respondents revealed that they have eaten alone in restaurants, although only 27% in Gloucester have done so.
In Southampton, however, 75% of diners still feel ashamed to look lonely in a table for one. This should not be a problem for them, since only 7% of Britons admitted to judging people negatively when seen alone eating.
Table for one reservations have now risen up to 110 percent in UK, restaurant booking service, Open Table reported.
"Restaurants across the globe are increasingly accommodating the rise in dining alone by installing clever solo seating arrangements such as extra bar seating, counters where customers can watch chefs work and single window seating, to enjoy a view whilst eating their meal," Open Table managing director, Mike Xenakis told The Independent.
According to a survey, 46% of people who eat alone said they would bring a book to keep them company. 36% said they would play with their phones while waiting for their orders, and 5% of them would call a friend to have someone to talk to.
Restaurants in Midlands, North East, North West, South East, London, South West, Scotland, and Wales reportedly have special tables for those solo dining with clever sitting arrangements. Waiters, who normally shift from welcoming faces to pitiful smirks when asked for table for one, even go out of their way to make customers coming in solo feel at home.
