While Easter brings a welcome surge to foodservice across Europe, Ireland carves out its own distinct trends, as Meaningful Vision’s analysis reveals. More than a religious observance, Easter in Ireland is deeply intertwined with social dining, creating a significant opportunity for pubs and restaurants.
Our data from the past three years highlights Ireland’s leading position: pubs and restaurants see a substantial 20% traffic increase during the Easter period. This appetite for dining out peaks on Good Friday and Saturday, with an impressive 36% surge in footfall for dine-in venues. This underscores the tradition of extended families and friends gathering for meals as a central part of Irish Easter celebrations.
Interestingly, while fast food also benefits with a notable 17% traffic rise, the dominant trend is the strong performance of traditional dining establishments. This suggests that during Easter, the Irish are particularly drawn to the social and communal experience offered by pubs and restaurants.
Following a similar pattern to the UK, Northern Ireland also experiences a significant Easter uplift in its hospitality sector. Pubs and restaurants there outperform the UK average, registering growth of 19% and 17% respectively. However, fast food sees a more modest 3% increase. Mirroring trends across the island, the strongest growth in Northern Ireland is concentrated on Good Friday and Saturday, with restaurant and pub visits surging by 33%, well exceeding the UK average.
Meaningful Vision CEO Maria Vanifatova highlights this regional dynamic: “While Easter naturally boosts traffic across Europe, our data clearly indicates a particularly strong affinity for dining out in Ireland during this period. This presents a unique window for Irish operators to truly connect with their local communities, perhaps by highlighting traditional dishes or creating special family-focused experiences.”
The key takeaway is clear: Easter in Ireland is a significant driver for foodservice. By understanding these ingrained patterns and local preferences, Irish businesses can strategically tailor their offerings, staffing, and marketing to transform this religious festival into a genuine and profitable growth opportunity that extends beyond the long weekend.
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