https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1iaec0g/why_have_uk_food_chains_gotten_so_bad/
created by tylerthe-theatre on 26/01/2025 at 13:19 UTC
947 upvotes, 200 top-level comments (showing 25)
This goes for high street and your sit down restaurants like Harvesters, TGI Fridays.
Is it the usual private equity buying up franchises, lowering quality and raising prices so they all end up being bland, tasteless and crap after 10/15 years? It seems to be the trend with about 90% of chains I can think of, in the last 10+ years the only places that have more or less stayed the same except for raised prices are Nandos and Pizza express.
GBK once upon a time used to be decent, horribly overpriced and usually overcooked food, Harvesters is basically not worth going to anymore. TGI Friday... lol. And you've got your tasteless might as well be eating cardboard types like Tortilla, Chopstix etc. It's baffling that these places are everywhere but they're so bad, the quality is abysmal.
I'd say there are only a handful of chains worth repeat visits, can probably count them on one hand.
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Comment by Savings-Carpet-3682 at 26/01/2025 at 13:28 UTC*
1474 upvotes, 14 direct replies
Private equity firms are the equivalent of buying a dairy cow, placing the cow in a giant vice to squeeze as much milk as you can as quick as you can, take the milk, then just dispose of the mangled corpse of the cow.
In terms of restaurants; chain restaurants generally serve prepackaged mass produced crap, which was fine with the general public *at the right price*
When the economy turned and people started to get miffed at paying real money for shit food, the restaurant’s whole business model was defunct
Comment by WanderWithMe at 26/01/2025 at 13:35 UTC
76 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The growth at all costs mentality, plus enough people accept the crap to keep the money rolling in.
Comment by MyKidsFoundMyOldUser at 26/01/2025 at 14:26 UTC
52 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Food chains start with a dream of doing things better. They do things better and they get a reputation which makes them a destination. Then the founders stretch their ambitions a bit and open a second location and it's really popular.
Then they get talking to some people in the industry who are growth advisors and help them understand how to "scale" this amazing product and service they have.
And for that they need money, but don't worry - they know the right people.
So they give up a big slice of their business on the promise that they will remain true to their ideals. And then they open number 3, 4, and 5 and it's going really well but they need more cash because this is getting big now so they sign over another little more equity for a chunk more money.
The backers put their own people in and start looking closely at the books. They shave a bit of cost off here and there, and it's barely noticeable. Plus, locations 6, 7, and 8 will be opening soon and they'll need money...
And like you slice a salami, the cost savings just keep going further and further.
And before they know it, the founders really don't have full control any more. So they get frustrated and start pushing back - desperately to preserve the vision that made them successful in the first place.
Then the founders then get the offer they can't refuse - a big chunk of cash to sign over the rest of the business and all of their rights. A severance contract takes care of all of their opinions on how it went (i.e. "you can't say jack shit but we'll pay you handsomely").
And then the accountants are in full control. And when they've shaved off every penny they can, they shave off a bit more.
And finally, people desert them because it's shit.
Comment by [deleted] at 26/01/2025 at 13:24 UTC
216 upvotes, 1 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by mozza34 at 26/01/2025 at 13:45 UTC
34 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Going to TGIs over Birmingham used to feel like a really special occasion. I don't know if that's just because I was younger it felt so special or whether it was that much better than what it became. But the staff used to carry out like 6-8 drinks at a time and it used to be a really cool experience.
Comment by ratboyy1312 at 26/01/2025 at 13:38 UTC
60 upvotes, 0 direct replies
They where always pretty bad, just now they are bad AND really expensive
Comment by Eerie_Onions at 26/01/2025 at 13:39 UTC*
163 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Harvester and TGI's were always terrible, but I agree with the general point.
It feels to me like just another part of the enshittification of everything in order to try sate the insatiable rapacious greed of corporate CEO's shareholders.
Comment by [deleted] at 26/01/2025 at 13:47 UTC
103 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by georgialucy at 26/01/2025 at 13:28 UTC
53 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You're not wrong, the price is expensive and the food quality is low. I've often left wishing I hadn't gone. Try going to independent restaurants if you can, not apart of a chain. I've found them to be better.
Comment by SingerFirm1090 at 26/01/2025 at 13:40 UTC
342 upvotes, 11 direct replies
Some chains use 'ready meals' that they buy frozen, then reheat and arrange on your plate before serving. If you see a 'Brake Brothers' van delivering, that is what they are delivering.
Comment by HyderintheHouse at 26/01/2025 at 13:29 UTC
48 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think chain restaurants will always come and go, there are lots of newer chains that do a decent job. But also try eating outside of chain restaurants! There are surely some local independent places with good reviews near you.
Comment by petrolstationpicnic at 26/01/2025 at 13:51 UTC
189 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Tortilla is still decent! If you need a reasonably priced burrito, it’ll sort you out
Comment by St2Crank at 26/01/2025 at 13:58 UTC
18 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’d say harvesters and tgi’s were never that good really imo.
One of the reasons Nando’s became so popular was because it was cheaper than these places and better. People suddenly got something half decent and relatively cheap, easy to see its success although Reddit does seem to look down on it.
There are a few chains that are still pretty good but on the smaller side. Rudy’s is nice, I absolutely love Dishoom and I’ve been for breakfast this morning at a Hickory’s and it was great.
Comment by pajamakitten at 26/01/2025 at 13:49 UTC
17 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Skimpflation, private equity acquisitions, lack of innovation, saturated markets in the medium-priced restaurant market etc. The reality is that there is no drive to do better and most Brits are content with slightly below average food.
Comment by pysgod-wibbly_wobbly at 26/01/2025 at 13:54 UTC
145 upvotes, 8 direct replies
I'm sure this opinion is unpopular but wetherspoons is king of chains,
It's cheap you know what you're getting and quality had been consistent. It's not great food bu good enough.
I feel evey other chain now feels like wetherspoons but charges more and pretends to be better.
I have been in so many places and been disappointed and felt ripped off.
Comment by Jackomo at 26/01/2025 at 13:54 UTC
23 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Agree with the general moan, but Tortilla is decent.
Comment by MyAwesomeAfro at 26/01/2025 at 15:31 UTC
9 upvotes, 0 direct replies
My local High St is already on Palliative Care, we have a Maccies, Couple Greggs, Nandos, Subway etc and 99% of the time I go to my local Shawarma place and get a large mixed Lamb and Chicken Platter, Large Chips, Enormous Salad and a Coke for 11 Quid. Me and my partner cant even finish it between us.
Chains cannot compete with *quality* Small businesses *as long as* they get that repeat custom.
Comment by Acrobatic_Extent_360 at 26/01/2025 at 13:42 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As chainS grow they tend to become more generic, they standardize the food and there is an emphasis on cost cutting and maximising revenue.
Comment by craigybacha at 26/01/2025 at 13:48 UTC*
13 upvotes, 3 direct replies
I rarely go to chains now. I live in a small town and the local pizza place is miles better than the chains. Support local.
Comment by Electricbell20 at 26/01/2025 at 13:56 UTC
13 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Chains are in a peculiar position.
People expect that they will get the same thing, every time, no matter which one they go in. This limits menu options and also limits what can be done in the kitchen to keep it the same.
A few restaurants will be fine. You can employ the right people and maintain a decent amount of meal preparation in the kitchen.
As they expand and franchise, the amount each individual restaurant can do reduces, as people want the consistency. Owners on the balance of risk will move prep out the kitchen to either someone like Brake Brothers or their own production kitchen.
This move reduces the flavour of dishes, firstly as a lot of flavour is volatile and reactive substances and secondly the consistency means you aim for an average flavour which you can repeat over and over. You can also formulate flavour packs which do the same
The expansion from a couple to a lot of units was done via debt and to service that debt, you eventually will start cutting down on food quality, reducing the number of staff, and reducing choice.
An independent restaurant can very easily change it's menu over time and increase prices slowly so less people notice it. They have the added benefit of people allowing the food to be different. Some people may call it Rustic even. Overall they have lots more options to weather economic circumstance. Although plenty of these have shut the past couple of years.
Another element to this is aging. Your first pizza in a pizza hut was probably amazing. It was someone's birthday or another occasion. You were a kid in your first restaurant all happy. Refills appearing out of nowhere. Now you are a millennial staring at the approaching middle age. You've had so many pizzas. A chain won't be able to deliver something you haven't had previously.
Overall chains die because they can't change quick enough. The current climate isn't the best for new ones to start.
Comment by FuckGiblets at 26/01/2025 at 14:37 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I work at a Beefeater at the moment and I find it so depressing. I left the country 10 years ago and worked in service industry for many many years before then. The restaurants I worked in before were great quality, freshly made food by people with passion. It was a tough (and underpaying) industry but we were proud of the food we served and the quality of our service. I come back and all there is to work at is chains. My experience managing is not worth as much because they all have their internal corses to go on. The food at Beefeater is just ping and ding. They have good suppliers but the kitchen is more of a production line than a kitchen. The chefs are over worked and soul destroyed because the job is so devoid of passion. As far as front of house head office is constantly pushing them to cut hours so no one is getting as much work as they want and the hours they do get are hard because we are constantly understaffed. We get regular speeches about upselling and how to bleed ever last penny out of the “guests” (apparently you aren’t allowed to call the customers anymore) and the focus is not on good service at all but rather how much you can get them to buy. I feel so bad doing that as everything so so fucking over priced. It’s £4 to put 2 garlic prawns on top of your steak at the moment for fucks sake. We are getting less tips because they feel robbed when they see the bill and we don’t have the time to put much care into the tables. From my view the service industry here is in a shambles and it can’t change because these chains are still making plenty money. It’s depressing as a service industry lifer.
Comment by TreatFriendly7477 at 26/01/2025 at 13:53 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Think you've hit the nail on the head there chap. It's purely about making as much money as possible while making people think they're still getting value for money.
As a family we've pretty much stopped using any food chains (and try to avoid pub chains too).
If we're eating out we'll find somewhere independent, even if it's more expensive, and go there. Does mean we eat out less but I'd rather spend more and enjoy a nice meal that uses the best ingredients available.
Comment by Tao626 at 26/01/2025 at 15:04 UTC*
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I used to love places like these, especially being somebody who couldn't cook from a family that worshipped the microwave. These places would be the only "properly" cooked meals I would get.
Then I grew up, met a partner who loves to cook and is a chef. Strangely, these places started to get worse exactly around that time. Such a coincidence.
These places haven't gotten better. My taste and expectations just aren't shit anymore.
Comment by g0ldcd at 26/01/2025 at 16:21 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The chains have got worse - zero hours, no actual chefs present, private equity etc
But I think the main change is that there's now just loads of really good independents and local companies with a few outlets that have sprung up.
If you've got any capability/love/aptitude for food - why wouldn't you just open your own place?
The franchises used to maybe offer the promise of customer name recognition. They've now pretty much all got shit reputations. I mean if I was to open a "Subway" or "G0ldCD's Sarnie shop" - just on the name, which one would you prefer to try a sandwich from?