Is it cheap not to cater?

Because I'd like to be sure that I got a table and prefer to choose where I eat and what the standard of catering is. I've never been out for a curry as a meal.

The whole evening needs a complete rethink.

4-6pm is a KS2 children's party slot where there is food and entertainment not the precursor to a 40th pub crawl.

And yes, it's cheap not to cater.

depends what you tell people when you do the invite

although with times 4-6 - sone food would be a “thing” or it could all be boring

I don’t either. Not sure many do.

Sounds like it’ll all be over by 8pm. Ever tried to move 40 people en masse, go to the loo, walk to next pub and then surprise the bar staff and try to serve people quickly. Shambolic at best, can you get her to think it through?

It's not the night though. It's 4pm, it's the afternoon.

Are you expecting people to start drinking at 4pm, with no food, and then carry on all evening? That's going to be a total disaster. Either everyone will leave to eat or everyone will get messy drunk

I agree with this, what is the actual reasoning behind this 4-6 thing because I don't get it at sll

I just really don’t understand when people are supposed to eat on a pub crawl? Yes there might be food available but who realistically is going to be ordering and eating a meal 4-6pm? And then when are you going to eat if you don’t do that?

And two hours is not enough time for forty odd people (who might not have seen each other for a while) to meet up socialise etc. Will they all want to troop round various pubs, where there won’t be space to sit or even stand comfortably with that number,, where unless the pubs are very close people will have to find their way, find something to eat etc.

I bet if you asked most people would rather stay in one place, have food, something to drink , listen to some music and have a good catch up.

Pub crawls are for students, so unless the significant birthday is a 21 st , tell the provider to organise a decent venue, music, sufficient chairs and food.

To be fair, all people are doing is telling you that it sounds absolutely shit.
The guests will doubtless be so underwhelmed they’ll leave early (in search of food / atmosphere) and she’s almost certain to be disappointed.
Why are you so certain this isn’t so?

Yes.

But it started at 20:00. People had plenty of time to eat beforehand, even thosefor whom it was a journey . I think is the main difference. Some of my friends live/d an hr to a couple of hours away and were welcome to stay over. Those who didn't live further afield of course could eat then turn up and then come for drinks everyone welcome to come and drink/eat with me once the pub/act was done.

A few people who came from further afield and staying over were offered food before we went out but all had eaten already anyway, I offered to pay for takeaway before going out too but no takers, we all just had a couple of champagnes!

Were it at 16:00 however.. If for some reason I'd have wanted that I'd have definitely put on food. I'm not particularly well-off but people drinking tend to just want some carbs and sustenance, so I'd have hired someone to cater or if I couldn't afford that I'd have made food myself.
And I'm the sort who doesn't ever eat much at such parties! But I know other people do, for social reasons as well as anything else.

I think it is quite different to a wedding where you're 'captive' all day and a guest who should absolutely be fed. Yes my friends were guests at my birthday but it was a night thing, not a day thing, I still made food for those who'd travelled/wanted to make it a longer night anyway, and for 90% of my guests it was a case of a 5 minute walk to the pub or at most a 5-10 minute taxi ride and then home or back for drinks and food if they wanted.

This in a nutshell.

I don’t actually understand why you’ve put a post up about this. You’re very defensive about it all on the one hand and on the other you think it’s all a bit cheap.

You don’t like hearing people commenting that it’s odd timing and not really how to plan a birthday celebration. Why post if you don’t like the answers?

@Itrtttyy why is she having the 4-6pm "party"? Why not just reserve a couple of tables in the pub from 7pm? I don't get it.

It sounds completely joyless, not a celebration. No gifts, no food or drink provided for what could be about 8 hours. I have an image of a cold function room with half a dozen people in it just looking at each other and wondering what to do. I really think most people will choose to eat at home at 6 ish and go to the pub later. I would try and talk your friend round or her birthday could be a huge disappointment

Because it’s infinitely more enjoyable than this “party”. I wouldn’t be wasting a night out on this farce, so I’d probably turn up for the weird function room bit, seeing as that’s the only time people will probably all be together, then go off for a nice dinner.

But you said yourself it is expected that some people will only call in to the function room part.

I think that’s what most people will do.

I know I would, I’d call in at about 5pm for a few drinks, and then go on to a restaurant or curry house - I’d see beforehand if anyone else wanted to come along too and I’d pre-book it so we are guaranteed a table.

It’s just a really strange concept.

Either hire a function room and have a party (with food!) or arrange a much smaller pub crawl.

This is half arsed - some people will want to eat at the function room bit and have to catch up on the pub crawl. Those who finish their drinks first will probably move on and the rest will have to catch up in dribs and drabs, and some will go off to eat. What’s the point? All of her friends will be at different places!

I thought she was leaving at 6pm for pub crawl. You would need to order by at least 5 pm for a chance to eat it before the birthday woman left to go to first pub!
Not that I care, I wouldn’t go on a pub crawl if you paid me. Spend all night trying to get served. At least Wetherspoons have the App.

Which normal meal do you have between 4 and 6pm?

@Itrtttyy - I don't think it's your party. Given the general consensus is "It's a bit shit" I think you'd have run for the hills long ago 😂

Book a function room and have some basic catering.
Or do a pub crawl later starting at 7.30pm