Many regional dishes might not be as popular as once thought according to the locals, as four in 10 people in Wales (40 per cent) admit to never having tried Welsh rarebit and 61 per cent have never tucked into a Welsh cake.
A poll of 2,000 British adults by Sykes Holiday Cottages found that 35 per cent of people from Wales believe that it is actually tourists who are helping to keep Welsh local cuisines alive.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of people in Wales admit that they’ve never eaten faggots and peas and seven in ten (69 per cent) have never tried Welsh stew.
Even more uncommonly tried regional delicacies amongst locals include bara lawr (93 per cent), laver bread (71 per cent) and a Swansea breakfast (81 per cent).
A quarter (24 per cent) of people in Wales who had never tried Welsh rarebit said they have no idea what’s even in it, while 18 per cent blame it on never having the chance to try it.
And it’s not just in Wales where regional dishes appear to be dying out, with a quarter of Southwesters shunning Cornish pasties and four in 10 (43 per cent) Scots having never tucked into haggis.
Up in the North East, the majority (62 per cent) say that they have never eaten the quintessential Teesside takeaway parmo – a piece of breaded chicken topped with béchamel sauce and cheese.
And despite fish and chips being the most popular British dish, nearly a third (31 per cent) of Brits say they have never eaten a Friday night fish supper.
The survey went on to find that almost four in 10 (38 per cent) Brits admit they have never bothered to make their famous local dish at home – despite half (50 per cent) insisting guests tuck into them when visiting from out of town.
Graham Donoghue, chief executive of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Lots of people are proud of the dishes which make their region famous, but it’s surprising just how many people in Wales have never tried their own local delicacies.
“There are certain parts of the country where specific foods will instantly spring to mind, with visitors from across the UK helping to keep these foodie traditions alive.”
When travelling around the UK, three quarters of holidaymakers (74 per cent) will make the effort to sample the local delicacies.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) will select a staycation destination based solely on its reputation for quality food – and 91 per cent believe it is important to enjoy good food when on holiday.
The most popular way for Brits to decide where to eat on their travels is by judging an establishment based on its exterior and interior.
More than a third (36 per cent) will tap into the locals’ knowledge of the best place to visit, while a third will read restaurant reviews and a quarter will seek advice from their accommodation provider.
CEO Graham Donoghue continued: “Our research shows that a big proportion of travellers choose staycation destinations solely on their stomachs, but when we travel around the UK it can sometimes be overwhelming to know what to try and the best places to get it.
“That’s why we’ve created our recipe book to give holidaymakers the chance to sample a selection of local favourites – prepared just as the locals would – before their trips or to get inspiration for their next holiday spot. And it sounds like this could come in handy for some residents too!”
