{"id":2869,"date":"2026-06-08T14:39:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/?p=2869"},"modified":"2026-09-16T14:42:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T14:42:57","slug":"coffee-dates-fuel-britains-new-low-cost-high-frequency-dating-economy-with-single-brits-spending-over-2k-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/2026\/06\/08\/coffee-dates-fuel-britains-new-low-cost-high-frequency-dating-economy-with-single-brits-spending-over-2k-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffee dates fuel Britain\u2019s new \u2018low-cost high frequency\u2019 dating economy, with single Brits spending over \u00a32k a year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>New VistaPrint research uncovers the rise of Britain\u2019s \u2018low-cost, high-frequency\u2019 dating culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The nationwide study finds nearly six in 10 Brits are opting for cheaper dates, with coffee now rivalling drinks as the UK\u2019s preferred first date<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Findings suggest changing dating habits are creating a quiet boost for local caf\u00e9s, pubs and restaurants, with single Brits spending over \u00a32,000 a year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>LONDON, 2026:<\/strong> New research released today from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/?PCXTVATINCLUSIVE=&amp;couponCode=BIGSALE20&amp;utm_id=2B10404544757289694316&amp;partner=google&amp;ps_vtp=5283944%7C1707815676%7C%7Ckwd-104664860%7Cc%7C9045907%7C%7Cg&amp;ps_vtp2=g%7Cvistaprint%7Ce%7C352628689176%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=5283944&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACUDNVuRyURDToKecEijoOxx4D83J&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwk_bPBhDXARIsACiq8R3-6f--oMznTkix6WWcbD2Ih1rQ-cRWz3zf6Aujdx7b7JTOZd6SYm0aAks8EALw_wcB\">VistaPrint<\/a> &nbsp;reveals that while the cost of living continues to shape consumer behaviour, Brits are not giving up on dating but they are becoming more selective about how and when they spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research, which offers a comprehensive overview of dating and spending habits, finds that over two fifths (43%) of people say financial pressures are influencing their dating habits, with 59% saying they are now more likely to choose cheaper date options. Despite this, the research finds the average single Brit is dating three times a month and spending \u00a32,270 a year on dating related activities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The rise of low cost, high frequency dating<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dating habits are shifting toward what could be described as a \u2018low cost, high frequency\u2019 model, with 43% of respondents saying they are dating more this year, while swapping expensive one-off evenings from more regular, affordable meet-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coffee and drinks are now the UK\u2019s preferred date format accounting for 58% of dates overall. Coffee dates (27%), in particular, are now nearly as popular as going for drinks (31%) with both formats more popular than traditional dinner dates (24%).<br><br>This trend reflects a broader shift toward casual, repeatable experiences that allow people to connect without spending significant amounts.<br><br><strong><em>Regional trends<\/em><\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>The average single Brit is dating three times a month &#8211; equivalent to nearly 40 dates a year. People in the North East are dating the most at 4.39 times a month, equivalent to 52 dates a year, while people in Southampton date the least (23 dates a year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Londoners are the biggest spenders (\u00a33,153 per annum), while daters in Southampton spend the least (\u00a31,302), with Norwich close behind at \u00a31,328.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Dating\u2019s quiet boost to local businesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move toward more casual dates is also creating opportunities for local hospitality and small businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many daters are choosing independent venues for their meetups, with atmosphere (36%) and uniqueness (35%) cited as the biggest draws, over simply wanting to support local shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pubs, bars and restaurants continue to benefit from dating traffic, with 60% of Brits still going on dates in pubs and bars and 59% in restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why real world impressions matter more<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While dating apps remain the most common way to meet people (67%), the research suggests that what happens offline matters more than ever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than half (51%) of Brits say they avoid them in favour of real world connections, with 21% citing dating app fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When choosing where to go on a date, 37% say they are more influenced by how a place presents itself in real life, compared to just 20% who prioritise online presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, 85% say the appearance of a business or a venue where a date takes place plays an important role, reinforcing the importance of strong first impressions &#8211; both for people and businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The hidden cost of dating adds up<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While individual dates may be getting cheaper, the wider cost of dating can quickly add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From hair appointments (44%) to gym memberships (28%) and new clothes (24%), many Brits are spending heavily on pre-date preparation &#8211; particularly as dating becomes more frequent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bronte, 24, from London, on dating in 2026 said:<\/strong> <em>\u201cDating feels more frequent but also more casual than before. People are choosing simpler options like drinks or coffee, which makes it easier to meet more often without spending too much.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThere is also more thought going into where you go, independent places tend to feel more memorable and even help you make a better impression.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Katie Eldred, Senior Country Marketing Manager at VistaPrint said:<\/strong> <em>\u201cDating has not slowed down, it has evolved. What we are seeing is a shift toward more intentional, frequent, and cost conscious experiences.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>For small businesses, this presents a real opportunity. As more people opt for casual dates like coffee or drinks, independent venues that can create a strong atmosphere and memorable first impression are well positioned to benefit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cDating culture is evolving, shifting toward more intentional, frequent, and cost-conscious experiences. For small businesses, this presents a real opportunity. As more people opt for casual dates like coffee or drinks, independent venues that can create a strong atmosphere and memorable first impression are well positioned to benefit.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>ENDS-\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About the research:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>1<\/sup> All data undertaken by Censuswide, accurate as of April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Methodology:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 Respondents in the UK (18+) who are single (incl. widowed and divorced) and are dating. The data was collected between 17\/04\/26 &#8211; 27\/04\/26. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LONDON, 2026: New research released today from VistaPrint &nbsp;reveals that while the cost of living continues to shape consumer behaviour, Brits are not giving up on dating but they are becoming more selective about how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[6,7,114],"tags":[179,124,142],"class_list":["post-2869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-in-the-media","category-in-the-news","category-latest-news-uk","tag-dating-economy","tag-entrepreneurs","tag-small-business"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2869"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2870,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2869\/revisions\/2870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}