Restaurants’ at-home growth below inflation in March as consumers count their costs: British restaurant groups recorded a third consecutive month of below-inflation organic growth in at-home sales in March, the latest NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals. The tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, shows like-for-like sales across the month were only 1.9% ahead of March 2025. After modest growth of 2.7% and 0.1% in January and February respectively, it suggests many consumers have been keeping a close eye on their spending in early 2026. Their confidence is likely to fall further as households anticipate the impact on many energy related costs of the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. The tracker highlights consumers’ ongoing migration from takeaways to the convenience of deliveries. Restaurants’ delivery sales in March were 6.3% ahead of March 2025 on a like-for-like basis, but the value of takeaway and click-and-collect orders fell 8.6%. This was the 12th successive month of negative numbers. It means takeaways generated 5.1% of spending with restaurants in March, while deliveries accounted for 13.5%. Adding in new restaurants, or ones where deliveries and takeaways have been launched for the first time, year-on-year growth reached 11.8% in March. There are signs that some consumers have switched from at-home ordering to eating out as the weather improves. The separate NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker indicated a modest year-on-year increase in restaurant groups’ dine-in sales in March. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “Whether eating out or ordering in, consumers have clearly been putting a tight lid on their spending in the first quarter of 2026. Slow organic growth means restaurants are currently relying on higher prices and new openings to shore up at-home channels, and the steep drop in takeaway orders is a cause for concern.”

Family behind Airport Bowl near Heathrow to open £11m immersive entertainment destination in Berkshire: The family behind Airport Bowl near Heathrow is to open an £11m immersive entertainment destination in Slough, Berkshire. Mega City, which opens next month, will span 55,000 square feet, offering more than 170 games and activities. These include an arcade with 130 machines, ten bowling lanes, laser tag arena for up to 24 players, laser raid challenges, batting cages, augmented clay pigeon shooting and darts, karaoke and pool. The experience will be fully cashless. Guests will purchase credit at in-venue kiosks and use a playing card to tap and play the arcades and laser raid games. The card will automatically track points won, which can then be redeemed for prizes. For the other activities, guests receive a QR code when booking that they then scan to activate the session. Alongside the games will be a food offer that includes a butter chicken burger and loaded fries, pizza and hot dogs, with the drinks menu featuring cocktails, craft beer, shakes and hot and soft drinks. “At its heart, Mega City is about bringing people together,” said co-founder Jeet Grewal. “We wanted to create a place where different generations can enjoy shared experiences, feel welcome and make real memories.” The family acquired Airport Bowl in 2007.