Tackling High Costs, Staffing Shortages, and Rising Demand
The UK restaurant industry enters 2026 under immense pressure. Operators face rising ingredient prices, higher energy bills, increased National Insurance contributions, and chronic staffing shortages, all of which continue to squeeze margins. Yet, despite these challenges, 71% of restaurant owners still expect their business to grow over the next year, according to research by Toast and Expert Market.
This unique blend of high operational stress and high consumer demand is reshaping how restaurants operate. Technology, and the quality of Restaurant IT support behind it, is increasingly becoming the deciding factor between venues that struggle and those that scale.
The 2026 Hospitality Landscape: High Costs, Low Staff, Big Opportunity
Across the sector, restaurants report that:
- Fifty percent cite rising ingredient and energy costs as their biggest challenge.
- Sixty percent are concerned about ongoing labour shortages, driven by fewer available workers and rising wage expectations.
- Over 382 licensed premises closed in the final quarter of 2025, equivalent to four closures per day, illustrating the intense pressure on operators.
Yet customer demand remains strong. Diners still prioritise going out, and operators, despite the turbulence, show growing optimism.
This creates a new reality: restaurants must do more with less, and the most successful ones are turning to smart, reliable IT systems to fill operational gaps.
Why IT Support Matters More Than Ever in 2026
As restaurants balance high costs and staffing shortages, technology becomes a crucial operational pillar. The right IT partner can help hospitality businesses streamline workflows, reduce downtime, and protect already‑tight margins.
1. Reducing the Impact of Staffing Shortages Through Smart Technology
With recruitment at its toughest in years and job vacancies persisting, technology is stepping in to relieve over-stretched teams. Digital ordering systems, handheld devices, automated stock management, and online booking platforms all help restaurants operate efficiently with fewer staff.
But tech only works when it is supported, monitored, secured, and kept online.
A specialist hospitality IT Support provider can ensure:
- EPOS terminals and handhelds stay operational during service.
- Systems integrate smoothly between front‑ and back‑of‑house.
- Cloud‑based tools run efficiently even during peak times.
- Staff are not wasting time troubleshooting technology themselves.
In an industry where labour is scarce and every shift counts, technology becomes a force multiplier, but only with reliable support behind it.
2. Controlling Operational Costs with Efficient, Well‑Supported Systems
With half of UK restaurant owners highlighting rising energy and ingredient costs as their biggest challenge, every avoidable expense matters.
Restaurants often overspend due to:
- EPOS downtime
- Slow or unreliable Wi‑Fi
- Inefficient payment processing fees
- Manual admin taking staff away from revenue‑generating duties.
- Lack of cybersecurity, leading to costly breaches
High-quality IT support helps reduce these hidden drains through:
- Proactive system monitoring
- Rapid remote fixes
- Predictable, flat-fee IT support
- Regular patching to extend the lifespan of devices.
- Network setup that reduces outages and boosts service speed
In 2026’s cost-heavy climate, technology efficiency is a route to financial resilience.
3. Meeting Growing Consumer Demand with Seamless Digital Experiences
Despite the pressures on restaurants, consumers are still enthusiastic diners. Research shows strong dining habits across the UK, including:
- A rise in younger diners making restaurants part of their weekly routine.
- High customer emphasis on convenience, digital communication, and smooth booking experiences
(SevenRooms UK Consumer Survey).
To meet these expectations, restaurants rely on:
- Online reservations
- Table management platforms
- QR code ordering
- Loyalty apps
- Guest Wi‑Fi
- Automated marketing tools
With 71% of restaurant owners expecting growth in 2026, businesses are expanding these digital touchpoints and cannot afford for them to fail during service.
4. Cybersecurity as a Non‑Negotiable for 2026
Restaurants process huge volumes of card payments daily, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. As more systems move online, risks increase.
Common Hospitality vulnerabilities include:
- Outdated payment terminals
- Weak guest Wi‑Fi security
- Staff falling victim to phishing emails.
- Poor network segmentation
Strong IT support protects restaurants through:
- Encrypted payment systems
- Firewalls and endpoint protection
- Staff training
- Regular vulnerability checks
- Secure, PCI‑compliant networks
With operating costs already high, a cyber incident is something most restaurants cannot afford.
How Speedster IT Helps Restaurants Not Just Survive but Grow
In a year where:
- costs are rising,
- staff are scarce, and
- demand is strong but increasingly digital,
Speedster IT provides the support restaurants need to stay competitive.
We specialise in hospitality IT, offering:
- 24/7 EPOS support
- Guest Wi‑Fi deployment
- Cybersecurity for restaurants
- Network and connectivity solutions!
- Hardware supply and maintenance
- Cloud and back-office systems support
Our services are designed specifically for the hospitality environment, where downtime is costly, service is everything, and reliability is essential.
The Bottom-Line Tech-Supported Restaurants Win in 2026
The UK restaurant industry is facing one of its most challenging, yet opportunity-rich, periods in recent years. With 71% of operators optimistic about growth despite economic pressures, the businesses that invest in robust, proactive IT support will be the ones best positioned to thrive.
Technology does not replace hospitality, it empowers it.
And in 2026, it is quickly becoming the competitive edge no restaurant can afford to overlook.
- Startups.co.uk — “71% Of Restaurants Forecast Growth Despite Cost Hikes” (Toast & Expert Market research, Feb 2026).
- GITNUX Report — UK Restaurant Industry Statistics 2026 (Market data and consumer trends).
- Clarkslegal LLP — “Trouble at the Table: The Challenges Facing the UK Hospitality Sector” (Labour shortages, inflation, cost pressures).
- SevenRooms — UK Restaurant Trends & Diner Expectations Report 2024 (Consumer behaviour, digital expectations).
- StartUs Insights — “Top 10 Restaurant Industry Trends in 2026” (Technology trends including AI, automation, robotics).
- Toast — “60 Restaurant Industry Statistics and Trends for the UK (2024)” (Industry stats, consumer dining habits, operational pressures).
With over 15 years at Speedster IT, I’ve built a career around helping businesses navigate the evolving world of technology. I publish all the content for the IT Support London Blog and Cyber Security Blog, where I share practical insights on infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity trends, and smart IT strategies for growing companies.
