The dread of a late dinner reservation text is a feeling many will recognise. Yet, a cultural shift is underway, championed by none other than actor and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow. She has publicly endorsed the early bird dinner slot, a move that aligns with growing UK data and a broader wellness trend that prioritises health and convenience over perceived continental chic.
The Celebrity Endorsement and Data-Driven Shift
Speaking on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast, Paltrow responded to Poehler's habit of booking tables for 6pm by revealing her own recent 5.45pm restaurant booking. This admission from a paragon of modern wellness has lent credibility to a dining time once unfairly associated with older generations.
The trend is not confined to A-listers. According to data from the online reservation service OpenTable, reported by The Times in August, early evening bookings are surging across the UK. Reservations for the 6pm slot rose by 11 per cent in London and 6 per cent nationwide year-on-year. Even earlier, 5pm bookings saw a 10 per cent boost.
Hospitality tech service Zonal reports the new UK average restaurant dining time is now 6.12pm, with almost half of all bookings falling between 1pm and 6pm. While 7pm remains the most popular single time, 6pm and 5pm slots now garner 29 per cent and 14 per cent of enquiries respectively, vastly outperforming the 10 per cent for 8pm reservations.
Restaurants Adapt and the Practical Perks
The industry is rapidly adapting to this demand. Platforms like First Table offer 50 per cent off at trendy London eateries for bookings in less-coveted early slots, typically between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Establishments such as Counter 71 in Shoreditch have introduced cheaper early evening set menus, making fine dining more accessible.
For proponents, the appeal is profoundly practical. A 6.30pm booking allows you to head straight from work, enjoy a relaxed meal and conversation, and be home by a reasonable hour. It eliminates the 'hangxiety'—a potent mix of hunger and anxiety—that accompanies late bookings, where delays can mean not eating until after 9.30pm.
As many discover in their thirties and beyond, eating late often leads to poor sleep and indigestion, tarnishing the memory of an otherwise enjoyable evening. The early dinner ensures the experience remains a pleasure, not a physical ordeal.
The Compelling Science Behind Early Eating
This shift isn't just about convenience; it's supported by science. Research consistently links late eating to higher risks of obesity, diabetes, poor sleep quality, and other metabolic issues. The reason lies in our circadian rhythm.
As explained in the paper When to Eat: The Importance of Eating Patterns in Health and Disease, the body is most efficient at digesting food when we are active and it is light. Eating late, when the body expects to rest, can disrupt this system and compromise metabolism.
Professor Jonathan Johnston, a chronobiology expert at the University of Surrey, summarised the clearest advice for the BBC: "have your last energy intake of the day as early as possible." Our bodies become less insulin-sensitive as the day progresses, making earlier meals a healthier choice.
The tide is turning against the late-night dining ethos. With figures like Gwyneth Paltrow leading the conversation, backed by solid data and undeniable health benefits, the 6pm dinner is being reclaimed as the civilised, intelligent, and wellness-aligned choice. While personal preference will always reign, the early bird might finally be getting the worm—and a better night's sleep.
