I lived overseas for decades in different places and I agree. Hosting and feeding friends is very ‘self conscious’ in the U.K. in comparison to some of the more generous and open places we have lived, where even very humble homes are totally free of the stress of hosting.
They also do tend to be patriarchal societies, and traditional countries where mostly the women are doing all the behind the scenes work to facilitate the socialising it must be said. I see less willingness from professional women understandably after an eighty hour week less keen to then tie on a pinny and start producing homemade dishes to lavish on guests ( of course it does happen) It’s a difference in culture. I see men cooking much more at dinner parties in the U.K., where as men in the countries where we have lived didn’t even lift a finger to do anything, at all. Apart from my dh who was an outlier because I insisted on it.
Where I live it can also be a grand affair rather than simply relaxing outside and casual food like the Mediterranean. Formal dinner parties are hard work.
Overall, I think the British do care, enjoy socialising generally and can be great company and generous hosts, in my experience, but time constraints, COL and recovering from pandemic burn out has taken its toll.
I see my friends often at home, I feel closer to them being surrounded by their lives and precious things, pets and I feel I know them better because of it. I don’t like to see perfect homes but lived in, loved homes. I am often too tired to host very much these days, but come the summer after the exams I’ll throw open my doors and welcome everyone in. I am a seasonal host. Love summer entertaining especially.