The British dishes at risk of extinction
Ninja explores the nation’s most popular dishes and uncovers which are fading into extinction and which are here to stay
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British cuisine is full of classics that have stood the test of time, bringing warmth and comfort to countless households nationwide. From the flaky crust of home-cooked pie fresh out of the oven to a hearty winter stew in the slow cooker, these dishes are all a huge part of tradition. For generations, they’ve been staples on dinner tables, loved for their simplicity, flavour, and connection to home.
But as tastes change and new food trends emerge, we wanted to explore the current standing of these much-loved dishes. Which ones remain firm favourites, gracing weekly meal plans across the country? And which are gradually becoming less popular, disappearing from family menus and dining tables, perhaps on the verge of extinction?
We surveyed 2,000 people and studied search trends for popular British dishes to uncover how the country’s food habits are changing. Our findings show which meals are still loved and which might soon be nothing more than a distant memory.
#1Shepherd’s pie
could be extinct by 2027
#2Victoria sponge
cake could also
be extinct from British
tables by 2027
#3Over half (57%)
of the nation would
be sad to see traditional
British cuisine disappear
#462% of the
nation find British
meals ‘comforting’
#5Just 8% of the
nation find British
staples ‘boring’
#6More than 1 in 3
(35%) would choose a British
meal when eating
out at a pub or restaurant
The British meals at risk of extinction
We all know the classics - humble fish pie, comforting toad in the hole, and the show-stopping beef Wellington to name a few. But how long do we really have left to enjoy these loved British delicacies?
It’s time to say goodbye to these British meals
| Rank | Dish | Predicted date of extinction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glamorgan Sausage | 16/11/2025 |
| 2 | Tatws Pum Munud | 14/12/2025 |
| 3 | Vegan Roast Dinner | 12/07/2026 |
| 4 | Pan Haggerty | 26/07/2026 |
| 5 | Shepherd's Pie | 13/06/2027 |
| 6 | Nut Roast | 07/11/2027 |
| 7 | Vegan Pie | 04/06/2028 |
| 8 | Welsh Lamb | 08/04/2029 |
| 9 | Cheese and onion Pie | 22/07/2029 |
| 10 | Panackelty | 02/09/2029 |
If you’re looking for air fryer recipe inspiration to keep the magic of your favourite dish alive, check out our recipe section to learn more.
The nation prefers meals from other cuisines
Our study revealed that while 57% of the nation would be sad to see British staples fade away, 31% appreciate the evolution of food trends.
When dining out, 35% still enjoy indulging in British cuisine, though nearly 1 in 5 (18%) admit they’d prefer to explore others.
The growing popularity of takeaway and convenience food is the leading reason people are moving away from traditional classics, with nearly half (46%) of respondents citing this as their main reason. Additionally, 15% reported that the cost of ingredients was too high, while 10% found British classics to be lacking in flavour.
Health concerns are another factor contributing to the decline of these beloved British classics. In fact, 18% of people believe that more would enjoy these dishes if they were made healthier, while 30% agree that fewer people are consuming them because they are striving to maintain a healthier diet.
British puddings and desserts are staples of any dinner table, with quintessential afternoon tea like scones topped with jam and cream and the classic Victoria sponge - named as a favourite by 7% of people - remaining beloved across the UK. But do we have long left to enjoy these well-known treats? Many of these favourites are sadly slowly disappearing.
Topping the list is Teisen Lap, a traditional Welsh traybake made with flour, butter, sugar, dried fruit, and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. Once a beloved Welsh favourite, its popularity has waned, with only 7,630 searches in the past five years and a large decline of 5.71% searches week on week. Sadly, this treat is on track to disappear entirely within the next year.
Rhubarb crumble is a warm and comforting dessert for many, featuring a crumbly topping over a sweet and tangy rhubarb filling. This after-dinner treat has long been a favourite bake. Unfortunately, it seems we might see little of it after 2028. Coming in at eighth place and with searches for the dessert declining by 0.49% each week and just 7% of the nation surveyed naming this their favourite pudding, this treat may soon be a thing of the past.
What about the nostalgic jam tart? This traditional British dessert dates back to medieval times when sweet pastry and fruit preserves were kitchen staples. Sadly, the jam tart is losing its place in British kitchens. Now, only 2% of people name this as their favourite dessert, and with searches declining by 0.42% per week, projections suggest this beloved treat could disappear entirely by 2029.
| Rank | Dish | Predicted date of extinction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teisen Lap | 06/04/2025 |
| 2 | Rock Cakes | 15/02/2026 |
| 3 | Chelsea Buns | 09/08/2026 |
| 4 | Wheaten Bread | 28/02/2027 |
| 5 | Victoria Sponge Cake | 23/05/2027 |
| 6 | Gypsy Tart | 31/10/2027 |
| 7 | Scones | 30/01/2028 |
| 8 | Rhubarb Crumble | 29/10/2028 |
| 9 | Banbury Cakes | 03/12/2028 |
| 10 | Jam Tarts | 01/07/2029 |
Traditional English dishes are facing an uncertain future as changing tastes and declining interest threaten to push some classics into extinction.
The English dish most at risk of going extinct is pan haggerty, with only 74,954 searches in the last five years, a figure that continues to decline by 1.17% each week. Once a beloved treat, interest in this hearty potato-based dish has dwindled so much that we predict it could disappear from public memory entirely by 2026.
Next on the endangered list are Chelsea buns, the sticky, cinnamon-filled sweet treat that was once a staple of English desserts. Over the past five years, there have been just 223,009 searches for this nostalgic dessert, with interest declining by 1.15% each week, signalling its potential disappearance from our tables by 2026.
Even the iconic Victoria sponge, named in honour of Queen Victoria herself, is not immune to changing tastes. Once a beloved favourite, its popularity is steadily declining, with searches dropping by 0.78% each week. It seems a new favourite cake may soon take its place in British hearts and kitchens.
Once a staple, wheaten bread - an Irish soda bread made with whole wheat flour - is losing its popularity. Searches for this beloved loaf have dwindled to just 158,429 in the past five years, and with a weekly decline of 0.86%, it’s expected to disappear by 2027.
A fry-up is a quintessential British breakfast, but the Irish Ulster fry offers a unique twist. Sadly, this hearty morning meal is disappearing as modern breakfast trends take over. Searches for the dish have declined by 0.16% per week, and experts predict it could vanish from breakfast tables entirely by 2039.
Another traditional favourite, potato bread, is also in jeopardy. Although there are currently 13,744 recipe pages online for this dish, searches are declining by 0.12% each week. If the trend continues, potato bread may fade from Ireland’s food scene altogether by 2040.
Topping the list is Welsh lamb stew, a hearty dish made with lamb, vegetables, and often leeks. Despite its rich flavour and deep traditional roots, this meal is in decline. With just 550 recipe pages available online and searches dropping by 22% over the past year, fewer people are exploring how to make it. If this trend continues, Welsh lamb stew could disappear from dinner tables as soon as this year.
Second on the list is leek and potato soup, a thick and creamy soup made with leeks, butter, garlic, and either milk or cream. Once a comforting staple, searches for this recipe have been declining at a rate of 0.22% per week. At this pace, this beloved dish could also vanish from dining tables this year.
Finally, Welsh cakes, a traditional sweet treat known for their buttery flavour and crumbly texture, are also at risk. Searches for this iconic bake have been falling by 0.18% weekly. If the trend persists, Welsh Cakes could suffer the same fate, becoming a lost tradition in 2025.
Scotland is renowned for its rich culinary heritage, with iconic dishes like haggis celebrated worldwide. However, some traditional Scottish foods are now at risk of disappearing from dining tables.
Scones, a beloved classic often served with jam and clotted cream, may soon become a rarity. Despite their popularity, searches for scone recipes have been declining by 0.61% each week. At this rate, these cherished treats could vanish as early as 2028.
Clapshot, a hearty delicacy made from mashed potatoes and turnips, is another traditional favourite facing extinction. Over the past five years, there have been just 56,896 searches, with interest decreasing by 0.35% weekly. If this trend continues, clapshot could disappear from Scottish tables entirely by 2030.
Similarly, clootie dumpling, a traditional pudding made from flour, suet, dried fruit, sugar, spices, and milk, and boiled in a cloth, is also at risk. Searches for clootie dumpling recipes have plummeted by 55% in the past year, suggesting that fewer people are preparing this iconic dessert at home. At this pace, it too could fade from Scotland’s tables by 2030.
Some British meals will always be firm favourites.
The roast dinner is a beloved meal enjoyed across the UK in many variations, bringing family and friends together. With a remarkable 12,934,687 searches in the last five years and a 21% increase in recipe searches over the past 12 months, this iconic meal remains a staple on menus and shows no sign of losing its popularity. Our survey also revealed it is the top choice among British meals, with 28% of the nation naming it their favourite dish.
Next is chicken tikka masala, a speciality with Indian roots that is famously said to have originated in Birmingham. With a staggering 4,582,654 searches in the last five years and a 22% increase in recipe searches, whether made from scratch or enjoyed as a Saturday night takeaway, this dish has firmly established itself as a quintessentially British meal.
Eton mess is also here to stay – a light summer dessert made with crushed meringue, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. With 3,886,540 searches in the last five years and a weekly increase of 0.04%, this beloved treat shows no signs of fading away.
If you’re passionate about British cuisine and want to save it from extinction, experimenting with your air fryer is a great way to revive them. Many British staples, such as toad in the hole, cottage pie, and even steak and ale pie, can also be made in the air fryer using simple but delicious recipes.
Here are some examples for you from our Ninja Test Kitchen:
Whether you want to stick to your family recipe that has been passed down through generations or try your hand at a modern take on an old classic, there are plenty of ways you can keep traditional British staples alive. If you would like even more recipe inspiration for British meals that can be made in your air fryer, check out our delicious recipes.
Methodology
Ninja UK commissioned a nationally representative survey of 2,000 the nation in December 2024 to establish the nation’s view of classically British cuisine.
Ninja UK identified a number of traditional UK foods, and using the past five years worth of data from Glimpse, calculated the trend and found when these dishes would become extinct.
Ninja UK also looked at multiple Reddit threads around British food to identify which famous dishes were being discussed, as well as Ahrefs to identify the number of pages and traffic the recipes were generating.