Northerners like it hot while Southerners can't handle the heat says new survey

Forget the great gravy debate, it seems the latest North-South divide is being fought over something considerably hotter.

New research suggests Northerners are rather more confident when it comes to spicy food, while their Southern counterparts are more likely to reach for a glass of water when the chilli starts to bite.

The findings come from the new Wingstop Heat Index, a survey of 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Wingstop UKI.

Before anyone starts accusing the researchers of stirring up trouble between the regions, there is a sizeable gap in the results.

Half of Northerners surveyed said they ‘love’ spicy food, compared with 40 percent of Southerners in the UK.

Even more revealingly, 23 percent of Northerners reckoned they were ‘very good’ at handling the heat, while only 14 percent of Southerners were willing to make the same claim.

Do you like it hot? It seems many people underestimate how spicy things will be (Getty Stock)

So, pass the chilli sauce.

Things are about to get competitive.

The research found that 59 percent of Northerners regularly add extra hot sauce or chilli to a dish that is already spicy, even when they have ordered the hottest option on the menu.

Among Southerners, that figure drops to 45 percent.

That's a difference of 14 percentage points,

or, depending on your perspective, 14 per cent more people willing to stare a vindaloo directly in the eye and say: “Go on then.”

When it comes to hot wings, the confidence gap remains.

More than half of Northerners, some 52 per cent in fact, said they believed they could win a hot-wing eating contest, compared with 39 percent of Southerners.

Sheffield came second in the UK city rankings, with 72 percent of people surveyed saying they enjoy spicy food.

Manchester took the top spot on 74 percent, followed by Sheffield with 72 percent, Birmingham on 70 percent, Leeds on 68 percent and Liverpool on 67 percent.

So if you're planning a dinner party involving a suspiciously hot curry, perhaps look north for your guests.

The survey also suggests Brits aren't simply chasing the biggest chilli hit they can find.

A whopping 78 percent of respondents said they like combining sweet and spicy flavours, with sweet chilli sauce coming out on top at 64 pecent.

Hot honey followed at 41 percent, while teriyaki reached 31 percent.

Honey sriracha and mango habanero also made the list, at 21 percent and 19 percent respectively.

Regret after trying to outdo your mates on the spice scale is all too common (Getty Stock)

That might explain why sweet-and-spicy dishes have become such a fixture on menus.

There's something rather satisfying about getting a little sweetness before the chilli comes along and reminds you who's really in charge.

Almost half, 48 percent of spicy-food fans, admitted they try to ‘out spice’ their friends or companions when ordering.

Entertainingly, an enormous 68 percent said they later regretted it. Whoops.

We’ve all witnessed that moment in a restaurant when someone orders the hottest thing available because they don't want to be the one who backs down.

Then, ten minutes later, they're quietly sweating into a napkin and pretending everything is absolutely fine.

Wingstop UKI CEO Chris Sherriff said he was surprised by the results.

“I have to admit, I was surprised to see Birmingham only come third!” he said.

“Growing up enjoying plenty of spice, I'd have backed Brum to take the top spot.”

Of course, the survey doesn't prove that every Northerner can demolish a plate of nuclear wings while every Southerner reaches for the milk.

But it does make for a wonderfully British regional rivalry.

Just remember: if you're tempted to out-spice your mates, think of the regretful 68 percent of people.

There’s no shame in ordering it mild.