Editing United Kingdom (section)

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|British cuisine}}
{{Further|English cuisine|Northern Irish cuisine|Scottish cuisine|Welsh cuisine}}
[[File:Fish, chips and mushy peas.jpg|thumb|[[Fish and chips]], a traditional British dish, served with lemon, tartar sauce and mushy peas]]

British cuisine developed from influences reflective of its land, settlements, arrivals of new settlers and immigrants, trade and colonialism. The food of England has historically been characterised by simplicity of approach and a reliance on the high quality of natural produce.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Else |first=David |title=Inghilterra |publisher=EDT srl |date=2007 |isbn=978-88-6040-136-6|page=76}}</ref> The traditional [[Sunday roast]] is one example, featuring a [[roasting|roast joint]], usually of beef, lamb, chicken, or pork, often [[free range]] (and generally grass-fed, in the case of beef). Roasts are served with either roasted or boiled vegetables, [[Yorkshire pudding]] and [[gravy]]. Other traditional meals include [[meat pie]]s and [[stew]]s. A poll by [[YouGov]] in 2019 rated classic British food, with more than 80 per cent liking the Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding, [[fish and chips]], [[Crumpet|crumpets]] and the [[full English breakfast]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2019/06/12/classic-british-cuisine-ranked-britons|date=11 June 2019|title=Classic British cuisine ranked by Britons}}</ref>

The UK is home to a large selection of [[fine dining]]. In 2025 there were 197 restaurants with a [[Michelin Star]]; 55 of them consider their cuisine to be 'Modern British'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/gb/restaurants/all-starred |title=United Kingdom |publisher=Michelin Guide |access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref> Sweet foods are common within British cuisine, and there is a long list of [[List of British desserts|British desserts]]. Afternoon tea is a light afternoon meal served with tea in tea rooms and hotels around the United Kingdom, with the tradition dating back to around 1840.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The tea-rific history of Victorian afternoon tea |url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/tea-rific-history-victorian-afternoon-tea |access-date=11 April 2023 |publisher=The British Museum}}</ref> A poll from July 2024 revealed that 3 per cent of the UK population follow a [[vegan]] diet, 6 per cent are [[vegetarian]], and 13 per cent identify as [[flexitarian]] (following a mainly vegetarian diet).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dietary choices of Brits (e.g. vegeterian, flexitarian, meat-eater etc) | url=https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/dietery-choices-of-brits-eg-vegeterian-flexitarian-meat-eater-etc | access-date=26 November 2024 | date=8 July 2024 | website=YouGov.co.uk}}</ref> The British Empire facilitated knowledge of [[Indian cuisine]] with its "strong, penetrating spices and herbs". British cuisine has absorbed the cultural influence of those who have [[Immigration to the United Kingdom since 1922|settled in Britain]], producing hybrid dishes, such as [[chicken tikka masala]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 April 2001 |title=Robin Cook's chicken tikka masala speech |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/apr/19/race.britishidentity |access-date=7 September 2021}}; {{Cite news |last=BBC E-Cyclopedia |date=20 April 2001 |title=Chicken tikka masala: Spice and easy does it |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/1285804.stm |access-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> The British have embraced world cuisine and regularly eat recipes or fast food from other European countries, the Caribbean and Asia.

The UK has many [[gastropub]]s and is the birthplace of many alcoholic drinks including many beer styles such as [[pale ale]], [[India pale ale]], [[bitter (beer)|bitter]], [[brown ale]], [[porter (beer)|porter]], and [[stout]]. The number of [[craft beer]]s and microbreweries has expanded rapidly in the last two decades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A guide to British Beer |url=https://www.expatica.com/uk/lifestyle/food-drink/british-beer-469903/ |access-date=25 November 2024 |website=Expatica}}</ref> Other popular alcoholic drinks produced in the UK include [[Scotch whisky]], [[Wine from the United Kingdom|English wine]], [[gin]], [[perry]] and [[cider]].