The US will release a limited number of passports that feature a portrait of US President Donald Trump, the White House has confirmed. First reported by Fox News, the passports will be released as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in July
Kichcha Sudeep defends KD The Devil director Prem amid Nora Fatehi song controversy: ‘People outside Karnataka can…’At a press meet for the Kannada film KD: The Devil, Kichcha Sudeep defended Prem amid controversy over Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke. Apr 29, 2026
Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing. A man in eastern India has said he was forced to carry his sister's skeletal remains to a bank to prove her death after failing to withdraw her savings. A video from Odisha state of Jitu Munda, 52
Man arrested after two people stabbed in North London area with large Jewish populationThe incident happened in Golders Green, an area of north London with a large Jewish population. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 4:50 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link British police have arrested a man after
Do you really need a 10-step skincare routine? Here’s a simple routine that actually worksThe 10-step skincare routine has become a common trend these days. But do we really need this? Let’s decode the reality behind the trend. Published on: Apr 29
Is dining out dying out?
The grilled chicken burger has long been James Deegan's dish of choice at his favourite restaurant - but he's not particularly impressed by it these days.
It used to cost £12, it's now £18," he tells me. "Plus a drink, obviously, it's quite a big jump.
This "ridiculous" leap in price over the last few years is frustrating for James, as it means dining out is a luxury he enjoys much less than he once did - now only a couple of times per month.
The 27-year-old from Crewe, a basic rate taxpayer who works as a carer for autistic people, says he has to keep a tight grip on his spending to ensure he covers all of his outgoings - limiting what he can do socially.
You have to budget for the little things,' he says, "the things that you enjoyed [freely] before.
The cost of living crisis in the UK has been well-documented over recent years - James turned to a food bank for help a few years ago when his finances were really strained - and one of its impacts has been on people's disposable incomes.
It means less money to spend on socialising with their friends and family, whether that's going on holiday, a drink in the pub or eating out at a restaurant.
Hospitality bosses say their industry faces a significant double whammy - customers with less money to spend and rising business costs including taxes, food, wages and energy.
Many restaurants have had to raise their prices to stay afloat but, even then, some have not survived.
Figures from Hospitality Market Monitor show the number of restaurants operating in the UK fell by almost a fifth between December 2019 (just before the Covid pandemic) and December 2025, dropping from 43,000 to 35,500.
A YouGov report also found people in Britain said they were dining in restaurants less frequently than they once did.
Published last October, 38% of 2,000 respondents said they were eating out less frequently than they did a year ago.
Of these, 63% said price rises were the main reason, closely followed by the increased cost of living, cited by 62% of respondents.
Petrit Velaj has been working in Greek restaurants for 30 years and in 2010, opened his own near St Peter's Square in central Manchester.
Awards for outstanding cuisine adorn Rozafa's shelves and pictures of famous diners, including Priscilla Presley and Boris Johnson, line its walls.
Petrit's family originally come from Corfu and, as well as serving Greek dishes, the 48-year-old enjoys hosting traditional Greek music and cultural events in his restaurant.
For how much longer? He isn't sure.
Honestly, I love my job," he tells me over a white dressed table at Rozafa. "I love to cook good food and offer good service to people - to make them smile, make them happy.
Petrit explains that for every £100 the restaurant takes, it spends approximately £55 paying various taxes.
"With the £45 left over, you have to pay for everything else - gas, electricity, water, rent, food, wages." He says all these costs have been increasing or are higher than a few years ago.
Petrit also has a restaurant in nearby Stockport and has 18 employees in total - some of whom he has worked with for 20 years.
He's keenly aware they have families to support and some months at the restaurant are so tight Petrit won't pay himself a wage.
"Fortunately, my children are grown up and they have their own money now," he says.
To him, it feels as though all aspects of running a restaurant have become more difficult since he started in the industry.
Like many chefs, he bemoans National Insurance rises and increasing business rates, but also more local problems like limited car parking and unclean streets, which put off diners.
His concerns over tax are shared by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who said restaurants were "facing a bloodbath", and called for rises in business rates to be implemented more carefully.
A few days after Ramsay's comments, the government announced a support package for pubs - but not restaurants.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was particularly concerned about the impact of these rates on pubs compared to other high street businesses.
Petrit fears the closure of Rozafa, not just for himself and his staff, but also for the local community.
Several well-known eateries near his in Manchester city centre closed last year, including TNQ Restaurant & Bar, after 22 years of trading.
Restaurants are a good thing for society," says Petrit. "For people to come out, enjoy their nights and have a taste of other cultures. The Greeks, you know, are the oldest culture on the planet.
Kate Nicholls, chairwoman of the UK Hospitality trade body, agrees about the cultural and economic importance of restaurants to British towns and cities.
"If you want to have a well-invested high street, if you want to have jobs for your sons and daughters - as well as Saturday jobs or summer jobs - then it's the restaurant sector that is going to be delivering that," she says.
Nicholls says restaurants are key to how appealing high streets are for people to spend time in - and if people are dining out, they are likely to be drawn into other shops and local businesses too.
They are valuable assets - use them or lose them.
But even for diners with greater than average disposable incomes, a higher cost of living means they don't go to restaurants or use them in the same way they once did.
Vicki Broadbent, a children's author who also blogs about parenting, is a big believer in the importance of restaurants as her family ran one when she was growing up.
She and her husband live in Harrogate with their three children and they usually dine out about once a week.
It's something she says they are lucky to be able to do, not just to enjoy good food, but also to spend time together reconnecting after a busy schedule of work and study.
But Vicki, a higher rate taxpayer, and her husband are also feeling the pinch and have adapted their restaurant habits accordingly.
We don't tend to order starters anymore," Vicki tells me. "[They] are quite expensive and some dishes could be £7-9, which could go towards a bigger main course instead.
Adding to the bill are her two growing teenage boys - "one is 6ft 2in and towers over me now" - for whom the cheaper and smaller dishes on the children's menu are no longer sufficient.
To help reduce their overall bill, Vicki and her husband tend to avoid ordering alcoholic drinks - unless the meal is for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary - and get soft drinks and a jug of water instead.
The Broadbents also occasionally order takeaways instead of going out to try to save cash, though Vicki says portions are smaller than they used to be, making value for money tricky to find.
Inevitably, my teenagers are frying eggs and making food a couple of hours later," says Vicki. "Then you think, 'Well, what was the point in that £100 takeaway?'
Vicki's choice of restaurant is often influenced by which businesses are offering discounts - something Sarika Rana says many other diners look out for too.
Rana is head of consumer research at YouGov and its October report found that while people still valued the experience and joy of eating out, "the cost of living is shaping a lot of the things they do".
Half the diners she surveyed said they had made different choices to save money - including eating in cheaper restaurants and ordering fewer dishes. "Forty-six percent of people told us they skip desserts," she adds.
Back in Crewe, James is keeping a close eye on his money - something he says is necessary "just to have a nice meal with a friend or family member".
Eating out is an experience he values, a way of recharging mentally after stetches of demanding care work. But he wishes affording small luxuries like this didn't require such careful effort.
It's crazy," James says. "It's ridiculous how hard it is.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Dish TV moves Kerala HC against DD free dish's special status Zuckerberg grilled over underage users at social media trial Rapido driver grilled in Gurgaon for being Muslim Amitabh Bachchan recalls when Jaya grilled him in Kaun Banega Crorepati as host Exclusive | How Sara Arjun hyped her burger bacha Raghav Sharma for Dhurandhar 2 Viral Burger King employee to pursue dream after $231K fundraiser Craving A Burger Warm Up This Winter With Ranbir Kapoor’s Comfort Dish What Was Princess Diana's Favourite Dish & Cheat Meal How Kimchi, A Traditional Korean Dish Can Help Protect You From Winter Illnesses
Exit Polls 2026: The 2026 Assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory will come to an end after the second phase of polling in West Bengal on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. After the conclusion of polling, all eyes will be on the exit poll results for the four states – Kerala, Tamil Nadu
1 days ago
ET AI-Ready is an AI Readiness Certification by The Economic Times that helps institutions measure how prepared they are for an AI-driven world through a structured, expert-led assessment. ET AI-Ready is the The Economic Times’ response to a simple and urgent question: are institutions prepared
1 days ago
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has unveiled the Parenting Calendar for the academic session 2026–27 through a live event on its official YouTube channel. CBSE launched this programme in the academic session 2025–26 with the aim of strengthening the partnership between parents
1 days ago
Chhattisgarh 10th and 12th board results: How to check results, step-by-step guideThe Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education, CGBSE announced the Chhattisgarh Board Result 2026 for both class 10th and 12th today; see how to check scores Published on: Apr 29
1 days ago
What's in a shoe? Lighter than banana, a bar of soap; marathon runners now have a new cheat codeSabastian Sawe's record-breaking achievement is the toast of the town. Know all about the shoe he wore and how it's a game changer for marathon runners. Updated on: Apr 29
1 days ago
Suvendu's ‘Hindu-Hindu’ slogans, then Mamata's ‘capture’ charge in Bhabanipur after both cast votes in big direct fightSuvendu Adhikari had defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram in 2021, even as the TMC otherwise won; and she later entered the assembly via a bypoll. Updated on: Apr 29
1 days ago
France, during its G7 presidency, will advocate for a significant overhaul of the Development Assistance Committee metrics that govern global development aid. Minister Eleonore Caroit highlighted the inadequacy of current income-based criteria
1 days ago
Bengaluru techie loses ₹11.5 lakh in Europe trip scam linked to Facebook pageA Bengaluru techie lost ₹11.5 lakh after booking a Europe trip through a Facebook travel page scam. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 4:10 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A 33 year old software engineer
1 days ago
Al-Qaeda has issued a sharply worded statement criticising Pakistan’s civil-military leadership and signalling support for the Afghan Taliban amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. In a two-page message attributed to its general leadership and circulated via the As-Sahab media wing
1 days ago
India plans E85, E100 fuels under new rules to cut oil imports, boost ethanol use, and push flex-fuel vehicles for energy self-reliance The Centre has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
1 days ago
With the cinematic debut of the Mandalorian and his sidekick Grogu and the return of the iconic Miranda Priestly, these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month. In George Orwell's novella, a farm is taken over by its four-legged inhabitants
1 days ago
As West Bengal began voting in Phase 2 of the Assembly elections across constituencies, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Leader of Opposition and once her close aide, Suvendu Adhikari, landed in the same polling booth area in Bhabanipur's Chakraberia
1 days ago
Shades of pink set the tone for the evening as US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House, with a foyer draped in cherry blossoms creating the ceremonial backdrop. Champagne flutes clinked as the president and the King raised
1 days ago
Australia plans a News Bargaining Incentive, a 2.25 percent levy on Meta, Google and TikTok Australian revenue to fund newsrooms, unless they strike deals with publishers Australian government has proposed a legislation to tax global tech giants—Meta, Google and TikTok—to pay for journalism
1 days ago
“Diversity is like a rainbow; In Bali, the people blend in like the seven colours and don’t see them as borders,” says Roby, our guide, as we stand before a sacred shrine at Sayan, a village close to Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. A beautiful way to see the world
1 days ago
Sensex Today: The Nifty50 and the Sensex gave up a large part of their intraday gains, even as rising Brent crude prices weighed on sentiment amid stalled US-Iran talks and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ exit by the UAE
1 days ago
Boxing gets a new makeover in writer-director Karan Anshuman’s upcoming Netflix series, Glory. Set in the furious hinterland of Haryana, the show anchors the tale from the eyes of two estranged brothers, who are forced to work together after their sister is brutally attacked by a bunch of masked
1 days ago
The U.S. Wants to Ban China’s High-Tech Cars, but They’re Already Here in El PasoMexican dealers are selling cutting-edge Chinese cars that U.S. consumers can’t buy. Americans are warming to the idea of them. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 4:00 PM IST WSJ Share via Copy link Chinese cars like
1 days ago
Chhattisgarh Board Result 2026: CGBSE 10th, 12th results declared at cgbse.nic.in, direct link hereChhattisgarh Board Result 2026 has been declared. The direct link to check CGBSE 10th, 12th results is given here. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 3:47 PM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda
1 days ago
A popular Japanese zoo has delayed its opening for the summer season after an employee told police he had disposed of his wife's body in the zoo's incinerator, local media reported. Asahiyama Zoo in the northern city of Asahikawa was supposed to welcome visitors on Wednesday in time for Japan's
1 days ago
Amidst the looming fuel supply disruptions due to the West Asia crisis, total natural gas available for sale in India grew 7.8% in March 2026, fuelled by an increase in imports of liquified natural gas (LNG). This increase in availability comes even though India’s net domestic production of
1 days ago
Apple investors will be keen on getting a closer look at John Ternus as CEO of the iPhone maker on Thursday, when it reports quarterly results that Wall Street is expecting to be strong.Ternus formally takes over from Tim Cook in September
1 days ago
Michael box office collection: Michael Jackson biopic hits $100M in US; beats Dhurandhar 2, Scream 7 lifetime worldwideMichael Jackson's biopic has earned over $100 million in the US, and crossed $225 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of the year. Apr 29, 2026
1 days ago
The death toll from a train crash outside the Indonesian capital Jakarta rose to 16, all women, after an injured passenger passed away in hospital, officials said on Wednesday (April 29, 2026). A long-distance train slammed into the last, women-only carriage of a stationary commuter train near the
1 days ago
With another defining European night on the horizon, as Atletico Madrid prepare to face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, the spotlight has shifted to Antoine Griezmann, the forward bringing his Atletico career to a close at the end of the season
1 days ago
Adani Power on Wednesday reported a 64 per cent jump in its net profit to Rs 4,271.40 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared with Rs 2,599.23 crore in the corresponding period last year. Its revenue from operations in January-March 2026 stood at Rs 14,223.09 crore
1 days ago
Iran is staring at a rapidly shrinking oil storage window, with capacity likely to last just 12 to 22 days, raising the risk of deeper production cuts in the coming weeks. Iran is running out of space to store its crude oil, a development that could soon force deeper production cuts in what was
1 days ago
