Written by Matt Reed Sponsored by Toast Published on 22 January 2026 On this page Predictions for 2026 Methodology Expand Toast's UK Restaurant Industry Predictions 2026 ReportOff-premise dining is set to remain a core revenue lever for UK restaurants in 2026. A recent report conducted by Toast, in association with Expert Market, suggests operators are doubling down on takeaway, delivery and the digital tools that support them, even as wider economic pressures persist.Based on responses from 400 UK restaurant owners, the findings point to strengthening off-premise performance as a priority, while keeping operations efficient and resilient. Key UK Restaurant Industry Predictions for 2026 88% of UK restaurant owners say off-premise dining (takeaways and delivery) will be extremely or somewhat important to revenue in 2026.Online ordering and delivery platforms are the technology that owners most expected to influence restaurant operations in 2026.Just over 70% of owners expect moderate to significant growth in 2026, despite ongoing cost concerns.All statistics are sourced from Toast’s UK Restaurant Industry Predictions 2026 survey of 400 UK restaurant owners. Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. Read Toast's Full UK Restaurant Predictions Report for 2026 For all six predictions for the UK restaurant industry in 2026, read the full 10-page Toast report here Takeaways and Delivery Will Be Key to UK Restaurant Revenue in 2026Toast’s survey of 400 UK restaurant owners found that 88% expect off-premise dining, including takeaways and delivery, to be either “extremely” or “somewhat important” to revenue in 2026.The split of responses shows how central off-premise has become for planning and forecasting, not just as an area for revenue growth, but as a potential financial stabiliser if in-venue demand falls.Importance of off-premise dining for revenue in 2026Almost all restauranters that we surveyed think that off-premise dining will be a key revenue-driver across 2026. Source: Toast.Source: Toast survey of 400 UK restaurant ownersOnline Ordering and Delivery Platforms Are Expected To Have The Biggest Operational InfluenceOff-premise success is tightly linked to operational execution, and owners are signalling where they believe the biggest gains will come from.The survey found that online ordering and delivery platforms are the technology that owners most expect to influence restaurant operations in 2026. Specifically, 54% of respondents predicted that online ordering and delivery platforms will have the most influence on restaurant operations this year.For operators, that influence typically shows up in the day-to-day fundamentals, like higher order volume without front-of-house bottlenecks, more reliable order flows, and smoother handoffs between kitchen, customer and courier.Toast's EPOS system has an Online Ordering module that can be turned on and off, so you don't receive orders at very busy times. Source: Expert MarketBusiness Growth Is Expected in 2026, Even As Cost Pressures RemainAfter a turbulent 2025, which saw consumer inflation and ingredient costs rise, restaurant operators are approaching 2026 with optimism, tempered with economic concern.Just over 70% of restaurant owners said they expect moderate to significant growth for their business in 2026. At the same time, 18% predicted that increasing costs and inflation would be a major challenge over the next year.This combination points to a clear operating stance for 2026: pursue growth where it’s realistic, but anchor plans in channels that can deliver resilient, repeatable revenue, with off-premise dining firmly in that mix. MethodologyOur methodology was designed to capture UK restaurant owners’ predictions for 2026, covering the pressures, priorities and technology trends shaping hospitality decision-making.Population and sample size: Toast collected 400 qualified responses from UK restaurant owners.Data collection: The research was conducted as a blind survey using the Pollfish platform, fielded from 31 October 2025 to 7 November 2025. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was conducting the study.Data notes: Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding. Written by: Matt Reed Senior Communications and Logistics Expert Matt Reed is a Senior Communications and Logistics Expert at Expert Market. Adept at evaluating products, he focuses mainly on assessing fleet management and business communication software. Matt began his career in technology publishing with Expert Reviews, where he spent several years putting the latest audio-related products and releases through their paces, revealing his findings in transparent, in-depth articles and guides. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism from City, University of London, Matt is no stranger to diving into challenging topics and summarising them into practical, helpful information. Sponsored by: Toast Sponsored Partner Toast [NYSE: TOST] is a cloud-based, all-in-one digital technology platform purpose-built for the entire restaurant community. Toast provides a comprehensive platform of software as a service (SaaS) products and financial technology solutions that give restaurants everything they need to run their business across point of sale, payments, operations, digital ordering and delivery, marketing and loyalty, and team management. For more information, visit www.toasttab.com.