Eating Out for the Over 50s London
Choosing where to eat to suit the occasion can be both an interesting and enjoyable challenge when you’re older. Here are some reminders of the things you need to consider to ensure you get tasty food, good service, great surroundings, and overall value for money – every time.
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Eating Out for the Over 50s
Increasingly people in Britain are eating out - and not just on special occasions.
That’s especially true of the over 50s, many of whom have both more disposable income and more free time to eat out more frequently.
Today the choice of where to eat, even in quite small towns, is extensive and varied. Ethnic restaurants, organic vegetarian cafes, fine dining, coffee shops, hotels, fast food outlets and the latest trend of “pop up” restaurants (temporary restaurants usually run by amateurs) abound.
The range of prices and types of décor and furnishing are also equally varied.
So how to choose what will best suit you? Of course there are no hard and fast rules but in general we older people like our eating establishments to be somewhat quieter and less frenetic than those that might appeal to younger people.
And, regardless of all else, we tend to value good service, comfort and value for money. That doesn’t necessarily mean cheap food, just that we like be able to identify and appreciate what we’re paying for.
Gastro pubs
If you’re aged over 50 one of the biggest changes you will have seen over the past decades is the major improvement in the quality of the food to be found in pubs.
Pubs often provide a more relaxed and casual atmosphere than a restaurant or hotel but have long had an image of poor quality and reheated food piled high with chips. However, things are changing.
Although there is a lot of hype and pretension in the emergence of "Gastro pubs", behind the posturing we are seeing a growing number of places to eat which are ideal for the over 50s.
They're probably on the expensive side for everyday refuelling but as bit of a treat or a business lunch they can provide healthy, well-prepared meals, made with fresh ingredients, to be eaten in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
These days nearly every pub serves food, with some making it a greater focus than drink. With such a huge choice the problem becomes finding good gastro pubs and other great places to eat.
Finding the best
Where to start? Of course, word of mouth is always best. If your friends like a place, you probably will too. The internet can be good assuming the venue has a good website and you have a specific place in mind that you want to check out.
Another way is to get hold of some good books. One of the problems of being 50 plus is that your children find it more and more difficult to buy you suitable Christmas and birthday presents. So why not suggest that they get you some books on good pubs and restaurants? Carry these guides around in the car with you and you’ll never be lost for where to go when you’re in a strange town.
A final tip, particularly in these recessionary times, is to look for deals in newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Many restaurants and pubs – both independent and chains – now have offers and coupons for reduced price dining. Many are only for certain times of day, or days of the week, but as older people we often have more flexibility to take advantage of these.
Using an offer is a great, low risk, low cost way of trying out somewhere new. So do be adventurous, both with your selection of venue and the food you choose. You’ve got very little to lose – and if it’s a disaster you may have a great story to dine out on, if nothing more.
Click here to read more helpful advice for the over 50s
That’s especially true of the over 50s, many of whom have both more disposable income and more free time to eat out more frequently.
Today the choice of where to eat, even in quite small towns, is extensive and varied. Ethnic restaurants, organic vegetarian cafes, fine dining, coffee shops, hotels, fast food outlets and the latest trend of “pop up” restaurants (temporary restaurants usually run by amateurs) abound.
The range of prices and types of décor and furnishing are also equally varied.
So how to choose what will best suit you? Of course there are no hard and fast rules but in general we older people like our eating establishments to be somewhat quieter and less frenetic than those that might appeal to younger people.
And, regardless of all else, we tend to value good service, comfort and value for money. That doesn’t necessarily mean cheap food, just that we like be able to identify and appreciate what we’re paying for.
Gastro pubs
If you’re aged over 50 one of the biggest changes you will have seen over the past decades is the major improvement in the quality of the food to be found in pubs.
Pubs often provide a more relaxed and casual atmosphere than a restaurant or hotel but have long had an image of poor quality and reheated food piled high with chips. However, things are changing.
Although there is a lot of hype and pretension in the emergence of "Gastro pubs", behind the posturing we are seeing a growing number of places to eat which are ideal for the over 50s.
They're probably on the expensive side for everyday refuelling but as bit of a treat or a business lunch they can provide healthy, well-prepared meals, made with fresh ingredients, to be eaten in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
These days nearly every pub serves food, with some making it a greater focus than drink. With such a huge choice the problem becomes finding good gastro pubs and other great places to eat.
Finding the best
Where to start? Of course, word of mouth is always best. If your friends like a place, you probably will too. The internet can be good assuming the venue has a good website and you have a specific place in mind that you want to check out.
Another way is to get hold of some good books. One of the problems of being 50 plus is that your children find it more and more difficult to buy you suitable Christmas and birthday presents. So why not suggest that they get you some books on good pubs and restaurants? Carry these guides around in the car with you and you’ll never be lost for where to go when you’re in a strange town.
A final tip, particularly in these recessionary times, is to look for deals in newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Many restaurants and pubs – both independent and chains – now have offers and coupons for reduced price dining. Many are only for certain times of day, or days of the week, but as older people we often have more flexibility to take advantage of these.
Using an offer is a great, low risk, low cost way of trying out somewhere new. So do be adventurous, both with your selection of venue and the food you choose. You’ve got very little to lose – and if it’s a disaster you may have a great story to dine out on, if nothing more.
Click here to read more helpful advice for the over 50s