Mother’s Day is officially one of the most popular days for dining out in the UK. And while the traditional Sunday roast remains a firm family favourite, Danny Silcock, Development Chef at Brakes Foodservice Wholesalers, reveals that alternative out-of-home food trends are reshaping how Brits are celebrating their mums in 2026.

From shared experiences, greater choice and global flavour discovery, he says, “Mother’s Day is increasingly moving beyond its traditional roots, with a high importance placed on creating a relaxed, feel-good experience that suits modern family life. More and more people are choosing to dine out on Mother’s Day to avoid the stress of hosting at home - whether that’s a traditional roast at a pub, or opting for a brunch or global cuisine. When celebrating Mother’s Day, families are thinking about more than just what's on their plate - they are influenced by the best time to eat, food preferences and social media food trends.”

It comes as online searches for ‘good restaurants for Mother's Day’ have soared by 100% year-on-year, while queries for ‘mothers day restaurant menu’ are up 160% over the last 12 months, according to Google Trends data. Research from OpenTable, reveals dining out on Mother’s Day is one of the biggest restaurant days of the year, with an estimated 16% year-on-year growth. 78% of Brits rank Mother’s Day as the top special day to dine out, surpassing Valentine’s Day (57%), with over half (53%) planning to eat at a restaurant this year.

Now, new analysis of booking data, consumer behaviour and online search trends show a surge in people turning to brunch, high tea, globally inspired cuisines and sharing dishes this spring.

Google trends data shows that whilst Mother’s Day roasts are still popular, Mother’s Day brunch searches overtook them last year - a shift that is continuing to rise, as online searches for ‘mothers day brunch’ surged by 23% year-on-year and a staggering 5,800% in the last three-months.

Furthermore, online searches for ‘mothers day high tea’ have increased by 75% year-on-year, outpacing ‘mothers day afternoon tea’ which has risen by only 22% over the same timeframe. While afternoon tea has typically been a dominant celebration for Mother’s Day, high tea - often featuring heartier savoury elements alongside sweet treats - is resonating with diners looking for foods beyond scones and finger sandwiches.

The appetite for shared dining experiences extends beyond brunch and afternoon tea, as sharing platters becomes a popular choice for relaxed, sociable family formats. This is backed by online search data for ‘sharing platter plates’,  which is up 200% year-on-year.

Brakes’ expert chef, Danny also reveals global cuisines, particularly Italian, Thai and Mediterranean, have been gaining in popularity since the start of the year and highlights this as a key dining trend for Mother’s Day. He says, “Post-pandemic travel and social media food trends have accelerated Britain's appetite for global dishes, as people become inspired by different cultures and what they see on their social feeds.”

Danny shares his top four food and dining trends ahead of Mother’s Day:

Global flavours gain strong momentum as travel and social media influence menus

While a Sunday roast remains a powerhouse for Mother’s Day gatherings, particularly among older diners, global flavours are gaining momentum, with significant interest in Mediterranean, Italian and Thai cuisines. Post-pandemic travel and social media food trends have accelerated Britain's appetite for global dishes, as people become inspired by different cultures and what they see on their social feeds.

The growth of global dining across the UK has made these cuisines more accessible. Italian dishes, like pizza, pasta and tiramisu, feel familiar yet special and are a great crowd-pleasing option for families celebrating Mother’s Day. Thai cuisine brings bold, aromatic flavours, with dishes perfect for sharing.

Brunch booms, as early meal bookings rise

Brunch is defining Mother’s Day dining this year. Google trends data shows that Mother’s Day brunch overtook searches for Mother’s Day roast last year - a shift that is continuing to rise, as online searches for ‘mothers day brunch’ surged by 23% year-on-year and a staggering 5,800% in the last three-months.

This earlier dining option offers flexibility and increased accessibility for dining out. Where lunch slots may be booked further in advance, brunch bookings provide another celebratory option - often less formal and perfect for multi-generation families, given a broad menu choice. On a practical level they also free up the remainder of the day.

While signature staples, like eggs Benedict and avocado toast, are still a huge hit for diners, we are seeing more families ordering globally-inspired dishes, such as shakshuka, Turkish eggs and Açaí Bowls. Similarly, as Mother’s Day marks an early start to spring, lighter nutrient-led options, such as seasonal salad bowls, grain bowls and wraps or pitas, packed full of colourful vegetables, become popular choices for brunch among Brits.

Vibrant mezze-style grazing boards are also appearing more frequently on menus as diners turn to shareable formats.

Sharing, social-style dishes soar

Small plates and sharing platters are quickly emerging as a pillar of modern-day dining, with consumers craving an immersive experience that mimics a communal family-style meal. From seasonal vegetable dishes to globally-inspired light bites such as arancini, bao buns or mezze, smaller plates cater to a variety of taste palettes and create a sociable atmosphere that brings together all generations.

With minimal decision making required, centrepiece meals like sharing steaks, family served roast dinners or seafood platters, are becoming increasingly popular. This is backed by online search data for ‘sharing platter plates’,  which is up 200% year-on-year, signalling a growing demand for sociable, grazing-style menus.

For restaurants, these sharing platters also offer operational advantages. They help streamline services and prep time for chefs to focus on quality and presentation, while allowing them to regularly experiment with larger cuts of meat, global flavours and other cooking techniques - to ensure menus stay creative. They can also contribute to a reduction in food waste. Small plates allow chefs to portion control and adjust prep levels throughout the day based on how each dish is selling on the day. For sharing platters, these are often made up of whole meats or fish - the entire ingredient is used rather than trimming for single dishes. Batch-cooked sauces or sides can easily be repurposed or safely stored for future use.

Afternoon tea dominates, but high-tea is swiftly gaining popularity

While afternoon tea remains a Mother’s Day staple, with online searches for ‘mothers day afternoon tea’ up 22% year-on-year, mothers day high tea is emerging as a more modern choice, with online searches increasing over three fold over the same period (+75% year-on-year). High tea is presented in a similar way to afternoon tea, but moves away from just the traditional dishes to offer more indulgent grazing. It often features heartier savoury elements that makes it feel like a more substantial meal - resonating with families looking for foods beyond scones and finger sandwiches.

Dishes include mini lobster rolls, smoked salmon brioche, artisan quiches and premium sausage rolls, alongside traditional patisseries and sweet treats.

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