A Taste of America: UK's Thanksgiving Appetite on the Rise as Americans Flock to Britain.
The traditional US holiday of Thanksgiving is no longer a foreign concept in the UK. According to retailers and restaurants, Brits are increasingly embracing American cuisine, driving a surge in sales and bookings ahead of this year's celebration.
Sales of turkeys, pumpkin pie, and other Thanksgiving staples have skyrocketed, with one farm in Devon seeing a 38% increase in orders during the fortnight leading up to Thanksgiving last year. Online retailer Ocado has also seen a massive jump in searches for Thanksgiving-related products, with interest rising by an astonishing 440% over the past year.
The phenomenon is not limited to food alone; American-style buffets and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among younger generations. A recent survey found that 42% of Gen Z and millennials have attended a Thanksgiving meal in the UK, while another 16% plan to attend or host one for the first time this November.
Experts say the trend is driven by a growing appetite for American food culture, with more than half of British adults now interested in ordering southern US dishes. The popularity of Thanksgiving has also been fueled by a rising number of American expats living in the UK, with interest peaking among Gen Z consumers who are increasingly embracing this holiday.
"UK interest in Thanksgiving reflects a growing appetite for American food," says Trish Caddy, associate director of food service research at Mintel. "It's less cultural adoption, more culinary celebration."
Restaurants such as CUT at 45 Park Lane are now extending their Thanksgiving services to meet the surge in demand, with bookings doubling year on year. Even Whole Foods Market UK has reported a significant increase in orders around Thanksgiving, with customers eager to secure their meal ahead of the holiday.
"It's become a real occasion here," says Izzie Peskett, head of marketing at Whole Foods Market UK. "Thanksgiving is now less about where you're from and more about embracing the warmth and generosity of the occasion."
The traditional US holiday of Thanksgiving is no longer a foreign concept in the UK. According to retailers and restaurants, Brits are increasingly embracing American cuisine, driving a surge in sales and bookings ahead of this year's celebration.
Sales of turkeys, pumpkin pie, and other Thanksgiving staples have skyrocketed, with one farm in Devon seeing a 38% increase in orders during the fortnight leading up to Thanksgiving last year. Online retailer Ocado has also seen a massive jump in searches for Thanksgiving-related products, with interest rising by an astonishing 440% over the past year.
The phenomenon is not limited to food alone; American-style buffets and restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among younger generations. A recent survey found that 42% of Gen Z and millennials have attended a Thanksgiving meal in the UK, while another 16% plan to attend or host one for the first time this November.
Experts say the trend is driven by a growing appetite for American food culture, with more than half of British adults now interested in ordering southern US dishes. The popularity of Thanksgiving has also been fueled by a rising number of American expats living in the UK, with interest peaking among Gen Z consumers who are increasingly embracing this holiday.
"UK interest in Thanksgiving reflects a growing appetite for American food," says Trish Caddy, associate director of food service research at Mintel. "It's less cultural adoption, more culinary celebration."
Restaurants such as CUT at 45 Park Lane are now extending their Thanksgiving services to meet the surge in demand, with bookings doubling year on year. Even Whole Foods Market UK has reported a significant increase in orders around Thanksgiving, with customers eager to secure their meal ahead of the holiday.
"It's become a real occasion here," says Izzie Peskett, head of marketing at Whole Foods Market UK. "Thanksgiving is now less about where you're from and more about embracing the warmth and generosity of the occasion."
, can't believe how much America-isation is happening in our beloved UK 
! Like seriously, who needs traditional British food when you can have a plate of turkey with all the fixins' from across the pond? 
It's like we're losing touch with our own cultural heritage over here. And don't even get me started on the prices โ all these fancy American restaurants are popping up left and right, and they're charging us an arm and a leg for it! 
I mean, can't we just have a decent roast dinner or a plate of fish and chips like normal people? 
. I mean, who needs traditional British food when you can have pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes instead? It's great that young people are embracing the holiday, but at what cost? Are we losing our own heritage traditions in the process? 
. Like, sure, who doesn't love some good old-fashioned turkey dinner every now and then? But is it really a cultural phenomenon or are we just Americans living in Britain being weird? 
. And don't even get me started on the whole American expat thing - that's just a bunch of people running away from their problems, if you ask me 
.
I mean, who wouldn't want to indulge in all those delicious American faves like turkey, pumpkin pie, and stuffing 
? It's so cool to see Brits embracing this holiday like it's their own! 
And can we talk about how awesome it is that restaurants are now offering Thanksgiving menus too? 
Like CUT at 45 Park Lane doubling bookings every year? Mind. Blown 
. And I'm loving the fact that Whole Foods Market UK is getting in on the action with increased orders - yay for customers who wanna try new foods! 
This trend is all about embracing the warmth and generosity of Thanksgiving, and I am HERE FOR IT 
I'm loving this trend! It's so cool that people are getting into American food culture. I've always been a fan of Thanksgiving dinner myself, there's something special about gathering with loved ones and enjoying a delicious meal together 
. The fact that restaurants like CUT at 45 Park Lane and Whole Foods Market UK are starting to offer Thanksgiving services is awesome - it's definitely more inclusive now! And I'm not surprised to hear that interest has been driven by American expats, there's something special about immersing yourself in a new culture 
... anyway, I think it's kinda cool that people are getting into American food culture, especially with all these faves like turkey & pumpkin pie going crazy in stores. But at the same time, it's also interesting to see how Thanksgiving is becoming more about being inclusive and sharing warmth rather than just about heritage or traditions... like Izzie said, it's all about embracing the occasion! 
Maybe we can even start calling it a UK tradition now? 
The more American food culture we have here, the better, am I right?! 
I think it's awesome that people are embracing American food culture and celebrating this special holiday together. It's like, who cares where you're from, right? 
The fact that there are more young Brits trying out Thanksgiving for the first time is so exciting, and I'm sure it'll become a thing they'll keep doing in years to come. 
Like, what's next? Ordering Christmas dinner in July?