By Ian McConnell

ENGLISH fans have been “eating their emotions” following their Euro 2020 defeat to Italy, restaurant booking platform TheFork UK has concluded from its latest figures.

The figures show a 55 per cent tumble in bookings for Italian restaurants in the wake of the Azzuri’s victory.

TheFork UK notes that bookings for eateries serving “British cuisine” have soared.

The figures are for the UK as a whole, with no breakdown provided for Scotland or other devolved nations.

TheFork UK said the figures show “a dramatic patriotic change in the nation’s appetite following England's defeat to the Azzuri in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday”.

It added: “British cuisine bookings have soared and are five times more popular than that of Italian of which is down by 55%, as the nation shows their allegiance to the England squad by swapping focaccia for fish and chips.”

Patrick Hooykaas, managing director of TheFork, said: "It’s clear from booking data that the nation is eating their emotions following a disappointing defeat on Sunday, turning their backs on Italian firm favourites like pizza and pasta and seeking comfort from British cuisine to help heal sporting wounds. The Italians may have won the footie war but England is winning the foodie war this week.”