With a predicted nine hours spent preparing, cooking and clearing away a Christmas Day feast, it’s no wonder that Brits across the country have made the decision to ditch the dish cloths this year!

More than 2,000 guests were set to have their Christmas dinner at Toby Cavery in Brentwood. 

Mitchells & Butlers, who operates pubs and restaurants like Harvester, Toby Carvery, Miller & Carter, Browns, Sizzling Pubs, Ember Inns, All Bar One, O’Neill’s and Vintage Inns has revealed that they have 72,000 turkeys, 2,500 tonnes of potatoes, 235 tonnes of Brussels sprouts and 103,000 mince pies on order, in response to seeing a 20% increase as UK consumers plan to dine out on Christmas Day.

Although turkey remains a traditional favourite, according to the 250,000 meals already on order, sales of chocolate brownies are outselling the traditional Christmas Pudding, and in Harvester nearly 50 per cent of the meals set to be served will not be turkey.

Mark Barker, General Manager at Toby Carvery in Brentwood comments: “We are a nation of bakers, but now more than ever time spent with our loved ones is coming first and though the tradition of cooking at home is still prevalent, the hours that can be given back by dining out this Christmas is outweighing it.

"Our pubs and restaurants want to give families the gift of time to share Christmas Day with each other, not their kitchen sink."