Finding it increasingly difficult to justify eating out at pubs etc

We're another family who have stopped eating out much, a few people have said it's cheaper to cook at home but it always has been, that's not the point of eating out, it's the social aspect and the convenience of having someone else cook but nowadays it's just too expensive.
People will still go to a place that does good food though, we have 5 or 6 country pubs within a 10 minute drive from here and there's only one that is always busy, it's the one that consistently has good food and decent portion sizes. It's not the cheapest but you know that you won't be disappointed there.

Totally agree. Husband higher earned. Kids now eat adult portions and will have starters as well. When I look back I’m kinda shocked by how often we used to eat out. It felt like such better value, we didn’t have to cook, was nice to get out of the house, etc. I just can’t justify it now. Also I agree with previous posters. Mid range and pubs I’ve really noticed the deterioration in quality of food.

I resent paying that for a pub meal. I'm in London and there are a few decent french restaurants nearby that charge similar prices - yesterday paid £25 head for a fab meal including wine. Why would I eat in the pub if there other nicer options at the same price point? I think they will be pricing themselves out of the market.

@Butterflytowna chippy used to be the cheap takeaway option :(

It's awful what this government has done to businesses. At a time where they need support, they hike employment costs.

I’m super fussy where I eat now and usually only eat out if I’m traveling. I was in Derby recently and found a restaurant that had good reviews. It did end up being really nice and a great atmosphere too.

I find a lot of restaurants and cafes are too cold, don’t smell great, have not so clean tables etc it all just puts me off from the outset so I think I’m better off cooking which I enjoy anyway. When I eat out I’m also paying for the experience so if I don’t find it a nice experience - I’m out!

Totally agree. We'd often do it if we were tired after work or just needed to get out midweek. Very very rarely do it now and when I do, I usually regret it.

Wonder if loss of customers is worth the price increases

Post Covid the quality went down, but prices crept up.

I’ve been to a couple of good value places recently, but they are far and few between. It shouldn’t have taken 5 years to get to this point after lockdown.

Completely agree with you, impromptu, mid-week meals out are off the menu now unless we’re passing a Wetherspoons!

Agree, but then eating out generally tends to bore me anyway. I can only really be arsed with it if it's either for convenience or a really nice meal for a special occasion.

I took my dd to a café in our local park for lunch last week. I had a salad and she had a bowl of carbonara. Two small sparkling waters and two coffees. The bill was almost £60! And we live in the north.

We used to go out every week 7 years ago. Now we hardly ever go out

It's a catalogue of events though not just 1 thing minimum wage has doubled in that time, NI increases, covid loans, brexit etc

When the energy prices rocketed businesses weren't protected like consumers, I had a broker trying to bully me into accepting a 3 year contract at £1 a unit. I laughed and said I take my chances as has 3 months left on my contract. I managed to get a 1 year deal at 60p and now it's back to normal but it wouldn't surprise me if some weren't sucked in with the incessant pressure. The government at the time told everyone they were helping, I got 2p refund.

Last week the new refurbished pub charged £15 for a chicken burger and £6 for a small cup of fries.

£21 I could feed a family of 5!

We don’t go out now very often.

Shame really, used to be a nice night out.

I agree that £20 for an average pub main course is a bit pricey. Some pubs do meal deals through the week which are better value for money.

And the roast potatoes are never right!

To be fair to the cooks, there seems to be something very specific about roast potatoes that means they will never stay nice once you've taken them out of the oven. Certainly all of the ways used in commercial kitchens to keep warm all seem to result in them going soft on the outside and acquiring a slightly stale taste in a matter of minutes.

I only make a roast about twice a year and I always serve all the roast potatoes in one go because even keeping them in the just-turned-off oven doesn't really work.

Yes, agree. We're a big family - 5 adult DD's, partners, etc and we've regularly all met up for Sunday lunches, family birthdays, achievments like promotions etc. DH and I have always been more than happy to treat our lovely family but we've had to cut down massively on this kind of spending since the COL crisis. We were regularly spending in excess of £1k a month on eating out what with these family dinners and DH and I going out regularly ourselves for dinner. It's over £75 now for DH and I to have 2 courses and one drink at our local gastro. Ridiculous, so we've started going to the Toby carvery midweek for a roast if we fancy going out but find we're actually quite happy to stay in. Whole family meals are always in the region of £4-500 so now they will be for high days and holidays not just for no particular reason any more.

I also realised while looking at set lunch menus of expensive places that the dishes very rarely include potatoes as they once would have. This is so they can upsell you chips or mash etc to augment the tiny portions they serve.

I think one problem pub's have is not actually catering to vegetarians (and other groups). There will often be a token item on the menu, and if you're lucky, it isn't a generic bought in burger.

I get that maybe it doesn't sell as well, but a lot of families and friends have vegetarians in the group and choose venues with a choice so by not having a choice of good veggie food, they lose the custom of the group.

Many people have things like a gluten intolerance (so not a full allergy) and will choose gluten free food, even with the caveat that it cannot be guaranteed in a kitchen handling many foods. So perhaps a few really well made meal options that cover a range of diets would help draw customers in.

I think it often depends on how you feel about eating out. I have never bothered that much about casual eating out. For us, we eat out 20/25 times a year but it is always a pre-booked/planned lunch or dinner. I might not even be bothered about that particular food but I like the social side/getting out of scruffs (and the wine) I am willing to pay for that!

Yes. The prices have gone up and the portion sizes have gone down. I go out once a month if I can afford it. I like the social aspect and it gives me a break from washing up. I agree with other posters saying that a better meal can be cooked at home for a fraction of the price. It's definitely encouraged me to cook a variety of restaurant-type food at home. In fact, I've been enjoying foods such as lasagne or spaghetti bolognese with garlic bread, mac and cheese, curry and naan bread, barbecue chicken. Last week I bought a pizza base and we put our own cheese and toppings on. It's a nice way to get the kids involved and reminds me of when I was their age and helped my mother in the kitchen. Great times 💕 🏡

I'll always drop money on a brilliant currey or Thai

I was looking at trying somewhere new for a special occasion and even though it was on the pricy side I was prepared to pay - until I saw the booking was only for 90 minutes. Im not paying over the odds to be hassled out the door so they can cram more people in.

Yes, I definitely eat out a lot less these days. It’s not so much that I can’t afford it, it’s that I don’t like walking out of a normal chain restaurant feeling like I’ve been mugged.

As a former hospitality manager, I fully understand that the costs of running restaurants have gone through the roof, and that if the number of customers falls, prices have to increase further to cover fixed costs, but that’s not the point. Value for money is the issue, or the lack of it.

Veggie sausages (the ones with frozen mixed veg in breadcrumbs that the business has probably bought for 10p each) are also what piss me off about veggie food in a lot of places these days, usually in the breakfast section. At least get some meat substitute.

Completely agree, eating out is just so expensive. Yesterday me, DH and DD who is 8 went to a very average fish and chip cafe by the coast. 2 adult fish and chips, mushy peas, a kids fish and chips and a fizzy drink or bottle of water each was £48!! Was just saying to DH that a chippy tea when we were kids was so much more affordable.