Thursday the new Friday as UK returns to office for ‘core’ midweek days

theguardian.com:

On a balmy Thursday evening, workers in office attire spill out on to the pavements of bars, pubs and restaurants in central London. They are part of a new trend in the flexible world of work: Thursday is the new Friday.

Office-based staff are increasingly returning to their city centre desks, but only for part of the week. Many are opting to commute to their workplaces during the “core” midweek days – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – bookending the working week at home.

The popularity of Thursday evening socialising with colleagues has not gone unnoticed by the bosses of hospitality businesses.

“In terms of pattern in the cities, Mondays tend to be quieter, Fridays tend to be quieter, Thursday very strong,” Phil Urban, the chief executive of the pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers, said. “While the suburban business is still doing well, people who would have had a meal or a pint near their home are doing it in London.”

The company’s city-centre locations – which include the O’Neill’s and All Bar One chains – are getting gradually busier, Urban said, which he attributed to the slow but steady return of workers.

“It continues to strengthen, and that is partly the offices going back. I think offices will continue to go from three days to four days. I travel in and out [of London], and at my train station I’m now struggling to park again. It’s the first time I can say that in two years,” he said.

Covid-19 caused two years of stop-start restrictions for office-based companies and their employees, who were repeatedly told by the government to work from home, then urged to return to their desks.

After the lifting of lockdown measures, many businesses announced perks to entice their workers back, including unlimited hot