Why do restaurants and takeaways close so early now?

We eat out quite often, usually early evening so closing around 9.30 doesn’t bother us.
It’s good for those in the hospitality industry. In the past we have known youngsters apprenticed to well known chefs having to get taxis late at night.

There has been a shortage of chefs for the last few years, so chefs can name their rate and hours, causing many restaurants to close earlier and open fewer days a week than they used to.

There are 24 hour KFC’s & McDonalds on the outskirts of our town but not in residential areas, on retail parks.
They are no use to people who walk home from the pub but plenty who drive around in cars use them.

You're right; we used to spend the evening in the pub then, at closing time, nip into the fish and chip shop for a fish supper to take home. There was always a long queue and you had to shout out what fish you wanted so that it was cooked by the time you'd reached the counter. My local chippy closes at 8 o'clock now and there's never a queue.

It depends on the area, in the residential areas it's early closing , in town centres there are usually a few open late. Not as many as in the past, when there were more cinema and pub goers.
More drink at home and order a takeaway.

We used to go to the fish shop or for a kebab after the pubs closed too.
People (even young people) don't go to the pub as much now though - if they're dancing they'll go on to the early hours - if it's coffees they won't get "the munchies" - so maybe the market's not there anymore.

Desdemona

I don't eat out much nowadays, and if I have a takeaway it is usually early in the evening.

But I remember when I was younger bing

Not enough customers to cover wages, energy costs, business rates. Simply put, they can’t afford too 😥

Round here, food outlets seem to shut at 9PM.

Do they ? Here in Wales, they’re open till about 11pm, I’m sure.

Sorry, carrying on lol!!

Being able to get a takeaway at nearly midnight after a trip to the pub, and restaurants not shutting until around then, or even later.

Have habits changed so much?