UK World War 2 and rationing, how did high class restaurants stay open

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My child is learning about rationing and world war 2, only being allowed 1 egg, 2 ounces tea/butter a week etc.

When the rich went to high class restaurants, how did they dine out? I’m assuming the hotel/restaurant had some sort of growing area for veg, chickens etc, or was there a lot of black market dealing going on?

Tea at the ritz, dinner at claridges etc. what went on to allow the rich to carry on acting rich?

In: Economics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

1. Food served in restaurants were during the entire war “off-ration”. Ie, it didn’t count for rationing.

2. Until 1942 the high-tier restaurants were serving food as usual. Which sparked quite a lot of anger until the british government cracked down on it with a law that stated that restaurants could no longer charge more than 25 pence for a meal. While some restaurants circumvented this rule to some extent by charging entrance/music fees this generally had the desired effect.

3. There sprung up some amount of black market restaurants, but in large restaurant menues adapted to using non-rationed items. Vegetables that could be grown locally (Potatoes, onions, carrots, beets etc which were not rationed) or for example spam. So much Spam.

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