Wednesday is the new Friday as home working changes Brits’ boozing habits

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First it was Thirsty Thursdays but now it’s Wasted Wednesdays – due to home working.

Hungover staff are making the most of no longer having to face their boss and can log on from the sofa on the last two days of the week.

The shift is making Wed-nesday the new Friday.

Phil Inzani, owner of Polo Bar in the City of London, said: “Post-lockdown, everything has changed.

“A lot of the Friday night trade has moved to Thursday and the Thursday night trade to Wednesday.

“This is the new normal and what we take into account in our planning.”

Around 15% of desks were occupied across the country last Friday compared with 40% on Wednesday and Thursday, reveals data from workplace firm Freespace.

It processes information from sensors at 120,000 desks across the UK.

Gearoid Devaney, owner of venues in London including Cabotte in the City, said: “Since London has been back to life, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been performing really well. Customers have been excited to be enjoying themselves again – and average spends have been higher.”

Graham Hollinshead, boss of Rockwater bar and restaurant at Hove in East Sussex, said: “The shifting patterns of working from home are definitely affecting the structure of the week for hospitality businesses.”

It comes as helpful Brits continue to pile into pubs despite the cost of living crisis hitting them hard in the wallet.

Punters are keeping the wolf from the door for many landlords, who say they’ve not seen a “change in behaviour at the moment” in takings at their boozer.

And they’re doing all they can to keep the cheap drink flowing despite monster 9% inflation by “taking costs on the chin”.

Publicans say they want to ensure the local pub “remains the home of affordable socialising”.

Marston’s boss Andrew Andrea, said sales in the past six weeks have been “encouraging” despite wine and food rocketing by at least 8%.

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