Well, you’ll be pleased to know that I made it to France in one piece, and with just a few hours to go until Euro 2016 kicks off, I’m all a quiver – and “BangFit”, of course. All I have to do now is go for a long lunch to soak up the Paris sunshine before heading to the VIP suite at the Stade de France. It’s not easy being me, you know.
Still, it seems that I am in the minority when it comes to long lunches these days. That is according to a new study, which claims that British business is under threat from a decline in professional networking opportunities resulting from the ‘death’ of the business lunch.
That’s right, in a world exclusive (well, no other publication would bother running this nonsense) two-thirds of Brits who have been working since the 80s have seen a decline in business lunches over their careers. And 30% of workers in professions that rely on relationship building – such as marketing and advertising – worry that the decline could harm their business. (Or they are fed up actually having to do some work in the office for a change, more like.)
Over a third of workers admit they would be more inclined to renew a contract or use a supplier after being wined and dined. Corporate bribery anyone?
When looking at alcohol consumption at business lunches, a fifth of workers in the 80s did not consider a business lunch to be a success unless the client was drunk. Oh happy days.
Meanwhile a quarter of 80s workers would drink three to four drinks each at a business lunch. They obviously never went out to lunch with anyone from the DM industry then… you’d have three to four drinks before the first course came out.
And who could forget (or remember for that matter) the lunching prowess of a certain Stuart Archibald. Now that AIS London has disappeared from the face of the planet, I feel it only right that we launch a campaign for Stuey to be given a blue plaque outside Little Italy in Soho. After all, he did pay for the refurb… I must admit I spent many an afternoon and evening being schmoozed by his silver tongue. In fact, I got home at 6:30am after my first lunch with the old charmer, just in time to have a shower and get back to work.
Anyway, in response to the findings, would you believe that Bookatable – that’s Europe’s largest restaurant booking platform apparently – is running National Business Lunch Week this week. Thing is, you’ve only got today left to get involved. Come on, Friday lunchtime…you know you want to.
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