Gen Z are shunning the pub...in favour of chicken shops: Footfall at takeaways surges - as youngsters seek out social-media friendly alternatives to traditional boozers

While many Brits love spending their free time at the pub, it seems Gen Z are shunning traditional boozers... in favour of chicken shops.A new analysis by Meaningful Vision has revealed that chicken shops saw an 8.9 per cent rise in footfall during the first six months of 2026.In contrast, the researchers found that footfall at pubs has fallen – despite a brief boost in July during the World Cup.So, why are youngsters opting for chicken shops over pubs?According to Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision, social media has a large part to play.'It's social–media friendly, with visual food and spicy challenges driving hype. And it's simply more flexible than casual dining: no booking is required, service is quick, and it's an easy place to meet up with friends,' she said. A new analysis by Meaningful Vision has revealed that chicken shops saw an 8.9 per cent rise in footfall during the first six months of 2026 While many Brits love spending their free time at the pub, it seems Gen Z are shunning traditional boozers... in favour of chicken shopsMeaningful Vision tracks customer visits, pricing, promotions, and store openings at 60,000 outlets run by the UK's top 300 fast–food, pub, and casual dining brands.Its latest analysis shows that fast–food restaurants on the whole saw a 0.9 per cent decline in footfall during the first six months of the year. The only two segments within the sector to see an increase in visitors were chicken shops (8.9 per cent rise in footfall), and ethnic cuisine restaurants (4.2 per cent increase). 'There are several reasons behind the rising popularity of chicken shops,' Ms Vanifatova said.'With the difficult jobs market for younger people, budgets are tighter and many have lower spending power. 'At £10–£15 for a meal, chicken shops are a much cheaper night out and more affordable place to spend time with friends than going to the pub or a casual dining restaurant.'Another factor is the operators behind the trend. US brands feel culturally relevant: Wingstop, Popeyes, and Dave's Hot Chicken bring TikTok buzz. 'The format is also built for groups – wings, tenders, loaded fries, and dips are easy to share with friends, giving it a more social feel than many other restaurant formats.'Looking at pubs, May saw the number of visitors down 7.4 per cent, while June was down 5.5 per cent. July only narrowly flipped to a positive of 0.2 per cent, thanks to the World Cup. Amelia Dimoldenberg (pictured with guest, Keke Palmer) recently announced the end of her YouTube show, Chicken Shop DateMs Vanifatova added: 'What’s clear is that people are visiting the pub less frequently. 'The World Cup provided a temporary reprieve, but the overall trend is undoubtedly lower footfall.'The news comes shortly after it was revealed that when Gen Z do go to the pub, they avoid buying rounds. Taking to Reddit, one user explained how they had witnessed youngsters only buying drinks for themselves, and asked: 'Is this just a generational thing? I'm 36 and it's always felt like the normal thing to do.'In response, one user said: 'I always rather just get myself a drink when I wanted one. Rounds generally just overcomplicate things.'Another added: 'I personally don't like to do rounds at the pub because I'm probably only going to have one or maybe two drinks max, so if there's more than a few of us, it suddenly becomes quite a steep option.'While the rounds system may be a British tradition, the British Heart Foundation says avoiding it really is a good idea. 'Opting out could be a simple trick to keep alcohol intake in moderation. Buying your own drinks avoids social pressure to drink more than you might want,' it explained.