Harvester leads UK casual dining in perceived value for money
In a dining landscape where value perceptions continue to shift, data from YouGov BrandIndex highlights which casual dining restaurants in the UK are seen as offering the best value for money in the last quarter and which brands have shown the most improvement.
Harvester, Pizza Express and Nando’s top the value rankings
When it comes to perceived value for money, Harvester leads the way with a score of 16, significantly ahead of its competitors. Pizza Express follows closely with a score of 14.1, and Nando’s ranks third at 12.7. These three brands stand out in a market where most other chains score below 10.
Wagamama ranks fourth at 8.0, followed by Franco Manca (4.4) and Bella Italia (4.3). Zizzi (4.2), Ask Italian (4.1), Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery (3.5), and Bill’s (3.5) round out the top 10.
The data suggests that only a handful of brands achieve a significantly high value perception among consumers, while many others cluster in the lower single digits.
Strong momentum for Harvester and TGI Friday’s
Harvester not only leads in value perception overall but also tops the list of most improved casual dining brands. Its score rose by 2.6 points, from 13.4 to 16.0, reflecting a notable uptick in how consumers rate its affordability and worth.
TGI Friday’s has the second-largest improvement, gaining 2.5 points despite still holding a negative overall score (-4.5). This movement indicates a shift in perception, even if the brand has not yet crossed into positive territory.
Yo! Sushi also shows a substantial improvement of 1.7 points, increasing from -1.1 to 0.6. Other brands with notable gains include Frankie & Benny’s, Pitcher & Piano, Flaming Grill, and Franco Manca, all of which improved by 0.8 to 0.9 points over the previous quarter.
Even brands that already ranked well—such as Wagamama and Franco Manca—continued to gain ground, suggesting that strong-performing chains are maintaining or growing their perceived value alongside emerging competitors.
Moderate Gains and Competitive Gaps
Further down the improvement rankings, Miller & Carter, Wagamama, and Browns Brasserie & Bar show more modest gains of 0.3 to 0.6 points.
The mixed list of brands showing improvement — ranging from high performers like Harvester to lower-ranked names like TGI Friday’s — demonstrates that value perceptions are not fixed and can shift notably.
Methodology: YouGov BrandIndex collects data on thousands of brands every day. Value is based on the question, “Which of the following brands do you think represents GOOD/POOR VALUE FOR MONEY?" (US adults)” and delivered as a net score between –100 and + 100. Figures are based on a 4-week moving average. Learn more about BrandIndex.
Image: Getty Images