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AIBU?

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Original poster

£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much

412 replies

GrealishGoddess · 31/08/2025 19:55

Deeply middle class problem but. Anyone else noticed that you can no longer get out of the likes of Bill’s, Wagamama, Pizza Express, etc , with two teens, for less than £100. Is this just inflation, NI effects, price gouging, what? AIBU to stay home?

OP posts:
fungibletoken · 31/08/2025 21:27

OonaStubbs · 31/08/2025 20:09

Eating out should be a luxury, people didn't used to expect to eat at restaurants all the time, it used to be a once or twice a year treat.

Fine in a city but in a small town how is the hospitality sector meant to survive if most households are only going a maximum of once or twice a year?

PivotFan · 31/08/2025 21:27

GrealishGoddess · 31/08/2025 20:02

4 standard pizzas, shared one dough balls, two glasses house wine, tap water, obligatory service. Not going crazy.with ordering but not sharing etc to scrimp - that’s 100 easy

This hits the nail on the head. It’s not just the cost, it’s the death of the casual vibe. That shift from relaxed to 'calculated' just sucks the joy out of it.
We completely recalibrated our approach because of this exact feeling. Found a way to still enjoy those days out but on our terms, without the mediocre math at the end.
I've put a simple blueprint for how we did it on my profile. It's all about reclaiming that casual joy.
Might help you get it back.

PivotFan · 31/08/2025 21:27

This reply has been deleted

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pinenuts75 · 31/08/2025 21:25

Fishplates · 31/08/2025 21:19

The country isn’t what it was 50 years ago…

people have different expectations now.

also a huge part of our economy is now reliant on cafes restaurants etc.

Show quote history

Yes unfortunately not the same, if only it was, the world was a simpler place that’s for sure.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 31/08/2025 21:25

DH and I ate out a few weeks ago, using a kids eat free pass and it still came to £70! I remember 10 years ago a similar meal would have been £40ish

Namechange4466543 · 31/08/2025 21:25

GrealishGoddess · 31/08/2025 20:14

Obviously you can make it cheaper - no wine, just tap ; sharing pizza, deals etc, but… that’s being “careful” in a mediocre place that we used to enjoy quite casually. That’s what’s different.

I couldnt agree more. We go out a couple of times a year and pretty much exclusively go fine dining now. Im happy to pay over the odds for what I consider to be a real treat. I am not willing to pay £25ph for a bowl of pasta, brownie and a wine. I could do that myself at home for a quarter of the price. I appreciate all the overheads etc but to me its no longer worth it to go to a mediocre restaurant

EveningSpread · 31/08/2025 21:24

OonaStubbs · 31/08/2025 20:09

Eating out should be a luxury, people didn't used to expect to eat at restaurants all the time, it used to be a once or twice a year treat.

I get what you’re saying but I really hate this argument.

The economy and peoples’ jobs depend on us spending money - that’s a big part of how capitalism works.

People didn’t used to have fridges, or indoor bathrooms, but now we all expect and enjoy these things.

People are justifiably vexed when they’re sold capitalism - which is meant to provide us with freedom, free time, and luxuries - and find they have very few of those things.

Why work yourself to death when many of the things you’re meant to be able to enjoy are increasingly out of reach?

(Spoiler: capitalism actually exploits workers to make a few people rich, and makes people believe they need mediocre pizza and crap trainers to be happy.)

user1473878824 · 31/08/2025 21:23

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/08/2025 21:21

Defensive much?!

Lunch to me is a light meal in the middle of the day, I eat my main meal in the evening.

If I was to eat a large meal in the middle of the day, which that would be to me, then I wouldnt eat another full meal in the evening.

If you think that makes you a big fat slob then thats up to you.

You dont know whether I am big, fat or indeed a slob.

Show quote history

….the time of day doesn’t change the price, does it?

Testerical · 31/08/2025 21:23

Completely agree: we are being rinsed every day in the UK. Currently away in another very high income EU country in a major tourist spot, meal for three with starters and mains, 3 soft drinks, two large beers: €70. And that’s for an evening meal, and not pizzas, which are basically bread and cheese. The minimum wage is higher here, too.

LhudeSingCuccu · 31/08/2025 21:23

pinenuts75 · 31/08/2025 21:07

I’m 49 I never remember my parents going out for meals, only for special occasions birthdays etc, we had a chippy meal sometimes as a treat, but mostly my mum cooked every night.

Show quote history

Same. I’m 52. Eating out was something we did maybe 10 times in a year. We never had takeaways, not once.

Our children and their peers have been brought up eating out every week. They don’t even see it as much of a treat.

Letsgoroundagainnow · 31/08/2025 21:23

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/08/2025 21:21

Defensive much?!

Lunch to me is a light meal in the middle of the day, I eat my main meal in the evening.

If I was to eat a large meal in the middle of the day, which that would be to me, then I wouldnt eat another full meal in the evening.

If you think that makes you a big fat slob then thats up to you.

You dont know whether I am big, fat or indeed a slob.

Show quote history

But that’s irrelevant, the fact is OP was taking about a “proper meal” at lunch time, not a light meal.

Maybe she won’t eat in the evening either.

But she wasn’t taking about sharing pizzas

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/08/2025 21:21

user1473878824 · 31/08/2025 21:18

Oh well then if you do it I guess everyone else is just a big fat slob then?!

Show quote history

Defensive much?!

Lunch to me is a light meal in the middle of the day, I eat my main meal in the evening.

If I was to eat a large meal in the middle of the day, which that would be to me, then I wouldnt eat another full meal in the evening.

If you think that makes you a big fat slob then thats up to you.

You dont know whether I am big, fat or indeed a slob.

Cherrytree86 · 31/08/2025 21:20

jackdunnock · 31/08/2025 21:07

That's why I mainly just go to wetherspoons these days. Yes, it's pretty mediocre food, but then I'm only going to shit it out the other end next day. Last weekend we went to the local chip shop (ironically directly across the road from spoons). Eat in cost us nearly £55 for fish and chips for two! Could have fed 5 adults for that at wetherspoons. Part of the issue was my DP ordered a gin and lemonade - which cost £10 alone (£6.95 for the gin, £2.95 for the lemonade).

I know spoons is the supermarket of pubs but it I'm sure other places could be cheaper if they weren't on punitive beer ties and rents.

@jackdunnock

“That's why I mainly just go to wetherspoons these days. Yes, it's pretty mediocre food, but then I'm only going to shit it out the other end next day.“

good grief. Basic or what

Beachtastic · 31/08/2025 21:19

COVID must have affected prices surely? They must be trying to recoup lost profits (as well as reflecting general price hikes)? Or am I being daft??

Fishplates · 31/08/2025 21:19

pinenuts75 · 31/08/2025 21:07

I’m 49 I never remember my parents going out for meals, only for special occasions birthdays etc, we had a chippy meal sometimes as a treat, but mostly my mum cooked every night.

Show quote history

The country isn’t what it was 50 years ago…

people have different expectations now.

also a huge part of our economy is now reliant on cafes restaurants etc.

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/08/2025 21:18

pinenuts75 · 31/08/2025 21:07

I’m 49 I never remember my parents going out for meals, only for special occasions birthdays etc, we had a chippy meal sometimes as a treat, but mostly my mum cooked every night.

Show quote history

52, and same.

user1473878824 · 31/08/2025 21:18

PyongyangKipperbang · 31/08/2025 21:11

To me a whole pizza per person is not lunch, its dinner. And £100 for a dinner out for four is about right.

So if I had that at lunch time I would have a snacky supper rather than a full evening meal.

Lunch would be sharing a pizza between two and no alcohol.

Oh well then if you do it I guess everyone else is just a big fat slob then?!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 31/08/2025 21:18

Bitzee · 31/08/2025 20:09

Oh stop it. The pizza express ones aren’t exactly massive and I have a hard enough time persuading an 8 year old and a 4 year old to share let alone 2 hungry teens!

Show quote history

Maybe just get a dough ball each for them?😂

Cheaper than sharing 2 pizzas between 4.

Figgygal · 31/08/2025 21:17

£37 for 2 pints and 2 glasses of wine in a bar in bath yesterday
No wonder pubs are going out of business (says someone who grew up in the trade so knows well the multiple pressures in the industry)

FeeLipa · 31/08/2025 21:17

Even coffee/frappe and a sandwich was ridiculous at Bluewater this week for 4 of us.

Most restaurants food is so mediocre my DC would rather have me cook from the hello fresh box. The cost is just not worth it.

I do love a Spoons though. DS and I go each Sunday for brunch after he has jiu jitsu. 2 meals plus refill hot drinks for less than £15.

StrawberrySquash · 31/08/2025 21:17

HauntedHero · 31/08/2025 20:09

I didn't realise anyone ate in Pizza Express without a voucher or using some sort of deal.

I never used to, but last time I went there didn't seem to be much in the way of offers going. I hadn't been for a while and signed back up, but nothing worth having. Was I just unlucky?

whitewineandsun · 31/08/2025 21:14

pinenuts75 · 31/08/2025 21:07

I’m 49 I never remember my parents going out for meals, only for special occasions birthdays etc, we had a chippy meal sometimes as a treat, but mostly my mum cooked every night.

Show quote history

Same. We didn't eat out.

glittereyelash · 31/08/2025 21:14

Yeah I'm so fed up with the cost of food out/takeaways and it's mostly mediocre. I've actually just focused on getting better at cooking myself and only going out for special occasions. We've saved lots and are using the extra towards holidays.

Screamingabdabz · 31/08/2025 21:13

MessageMystery · 31/08/2025 20:06

4 people don’t need 4 pizzas. I’d get two and a side dish for four.

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Oh ffs… 🙄

whitewineandsun · 31/08/2025 21:12

MessageMystery · 31/08/2025 20:06

4 people don’t need 4 pizzas. I’d get two and a side dish for four.

Show quote history

And no wine. Casual for me means no wine.

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