Thursday 21 May 2026 5:03 am  |  Updated:  Wednesday 20 May 2026 4:42 pm

Office foodies, the working lunch needs YOU!

By: Nicole Gordon

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Amid a hospitality crisis, it’s up to workers to take longer, boozier lunches and power the economy, says Nicole Gordon

British hospitality is in crisis, thanks to soaring operating costs. British pubs are reportedly closing at a rate of two per day, while rising food and energy prices continue to place new pressure on the sector in the wake of conflict in the Middle East. With little meaningful relief for restaurateurs, it is increasingly down to the Office Foodie to help prop up the industry. 

The relationship between business and hospitality is symbiotic. Businesses and business districts benefit from vibrant and exciting restaurants on the doorstep of their workplaces, and these restaurants and bars need their trade. With household budgets squeezed, I believe London businesses and workers have a role in supporting the hospitality infrastructure that surrounds them. Charlie Humphries, head of brand at Caravan London Bridge, a popular working lunch spot, says professional trade has always been important in keeping kitchens busy, calling them “a lifeline” for main restaurants, that’s only getting more urgent: “Right now, those working lunches and client meetings matter more than ever,” he said.

Let’s revive the 80s power........

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