Stay in or go out? Londoners are choosing to entertain at home… but worry about kitchen envy
Londoners might have culture, restaurants and world leading events on their doorstep, but the city is full of people who would rather stay in for the night.
Half of us choose to entertain at home rather than heading out to a bar, club or restaurant, according to new research.
But while avoiding the hustle and bustle of heading out might make for a more relaxed evening, it turns out we're feeling the pressure when it comes to how good our kitchen is.
Nearly a third of us are worried our kitchen isn't as impressive as our friends' – and that they will judge us for it. One in 10 Londoners even said they'd forgo having a holiday to spend the money on improving their kitchen.
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Anyone feeling at touch of kitchen envy can blame our natural instincts, according to one psychologist.
“The urge to compete is deeply rooted in our evolutionary past, and there is a good reason for it," Harley Street psychologist Doctor Becky Spellman explained.
"Throughout time, those who have been able to show that they are “best” at what matters at the time (like being able to provide for a family by hunting, or being the most capable at raising children) have been the ones most likely to have their pick of potential mates, and to rise to positions of leadership.”
It's those in their early 30s who are staying in rather than heading out on the town more than any other age group, the survey of 2,000 homeowners by Beko found.
Of 31-35 year olds, 56 per cent said they'd rather entertain at home. But even younger generations, who might be expected to spend their nights on the town, are eschewing the bright lights of the city, with 40 per cent saying they'd go for a night in rather than a night out.