Europeans are spending more than ever on eating and drinking out with out-of-home food and drink spend breaking through the €300b mark for the first time.

Research from food service analysts Horizons suggest that the European-wide spend has increased to €301b (£202b) a year.

The five largest countries in Europe account for 77% of that figure, led by Germany with out of home food and drink sales of €64b (£43b). This was followed by France €54b (£36.5b), UK €44b (£29.6b), Italy €37 (£25b) and Spain €34 (£23b).

The report ties in with a recent survey by American Express, which suggests that business confidence among Europe’s hotels and restaurants has increased by more than 20% in the past year.

The survey found that more than three-quarters of operators in Europe felt more confident about the outlook for their business in the next 12 months than they did a year ago.

Business confidence amongst restaurateurs and hoteliers soars >>

Britons eat out less as inflation hits spending >>

Eating-out spend fears >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.