A quarter of the UK is set to order a takeaway on Christmas Eve, according to research by online food ordering app Foodhub.
The study reveals that 23% of respondents are likely to leave the cooking for the big day and tuck into a takeaway treat on Christmas Eve.
Pizza has been named the number one cuisine ahead of Christmas Day, with almost a third of the UK (32%) looking to chow down on the cheesy treat. Chinese came in second with 27%, while fried chicken (10%) rounded off the top three.
A quarter of the UK is also set to order a takeaway on New Year’s Eve, as people look for a quick fix meal before heading for a night out.
Pizza (16%) once again came out number one on December 31st, while fried chicken (13%) saw an increase in popularity and Chinese (12%) dropped into third spot.
The busiest period for ordering takeaways on Christmas and New Year’s Eve is between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, with Foodhub encouraging shops to promote pre-orders to avoid any delays and disappointments.
Last year, Foodhub experienced a whopping 66% more orders on Christmas Eve and 88% more orders on New Year’s Eve compared to the days prior.
Emma Stockman, Foodhub spokesperson, said: “Takeaways play such a big role in special occasions throughout the year, and this is no different over the festive period.
“Christmas and New Year’s Eve are two of our busiest periods, with ordering takeaway meals for the family becoming a real trend in the UK over the last few years.
“We’re urging our customers to use our pre-order tool this year to ensure foodie fans can be even more prepared and order their food for the exact time they want to eat, meaning they can avoid any rush and set up a Christmas movie ready for when their food arrives”.