A survey conducted by leading hospitality platform Toast, in association with Expert Market, has revealed six key predictions for the UK hospitality industry this year.
View Toast’s full Restaurant Owner Trends & Predictions For 2026 Report here.
- Economic uncertainty will demand focus
When asked which factor would have the biggest impact on the restaurant industry in 2026, the most common answer was “economic conditions”, referenced by over 30% of respondents.
18% of restaurant owners also say “increasing costs and inflation” could be a major challenge.
- Customer experience will be elevated
When asked which area of restaurant management they would be focusing on in 2026, 31% of operators said they would be making improvements to customer experience, while 21% want to improve speed and efficiency.
- New tech will be at top priority
According to the survey, 80% of restaurant owners report being at least “somewhat ready” to adopt new technologies, and 18% of respondents predict technology and automation will have the biggest impact on the UK restaurant industry.
23% of respondents say that AI and automation will be the technology trend that has the most influence on restaurant operations in 2026.
AI is already being leveraged in restaurants in day-to-day tasks such as tracking sales and inventory or crafting restaurant slogans.
- Labour challenges could continue
When considering the impact of 2025 National Insurance hikes and immigration reforms, it’s no wonder 60% of restaurant owners have concerns around staff shortages and labour challenges for 2026.
Toast research indicates that giving employees clear career development paths, offering a competitive salary and flexible working benefits are key to retaining employees.
- Delivery & off-premise dining are crucial for revenue
A combined 87% of owners believe off-premise dining, including takeout and delivery, will be “extremely” or “somewhat important” to their revenue in 2026.
- Sustainability will be a main focus
80% of the UK restaurant owners said they will be focusing on sustainability and ethical sourcing in 2026. When it comes to trends shaping menus this year, a commitment to “local and sustainable sourcing” was cited by restaurant operators as the most influential consumer trend.
VP of International at Toast, Ana Munoz, comments: “In all of the uncertainty, one thing’s for certain – the path forward is dynamic, requiring operational agility to navigate rising costs while strategically investing in technology, values, and practices that reflect the modern consumer.”
Editor of Expert Market, Chris Maillard, comments: “These are tough times for UK restaurant operators – they’re experiencing a perfect storm of rising costs, staff shortages and economic uncertainty.
However, it’s great to see that they’re tackling the tough times with extra emphasis on takeaway service, customer experience and new technology. They’re even still focusing on sustainability, which is a real tribute to the restaurant sector’s positive and responsible outlook.”
Additional information:
- 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. We serve as the restaurant operating system, connecting front of house and back of house operations across service models including dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering, and retail. Toast helps restaurants streamline operations, increase revenue, and deliver amazing guest experiences. For more information, visit www.toasttab.com
- Expert Market is a leading business solutions provider, with over a decade worth of experience
