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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:
DancefloorAcrobatics · 31/08/2025 20:19

We did Pizza Hut buffet in the week for £9.99 each & tap water. Seemed good value if it wasn't for the fact that they kept running out of food! So spent more time waiting than actually eating... really frustrating.

But then I wouldn't pay £17.99 for a cheese & peperoni pizza off their normal menu.

Someone2025 · 31/08/2025 20:18

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

Unfortunately £100 would be about right for that, the wine probably pushed it up a good bit, alcohol ( amongst other things) is after becoming very expensive, did the teenagers just have tap water?

Digdongdoo · 31/08/2025 20:18

Yeah it's expensive, which is why we don't do it. But wages and rents aren't cheap, I can see why it costs so much.

Trickabrick · 31/08/2025 20:16

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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🤣🤣🤣 good one, you’ve not met the average teen lately?!

PiggyPokkyFool · 31/08/2025 20:15

Prezzo do a great lunch menu with 2(very generous and yes I love a decent portion and eat lots) for £12.50pp
3 people, a glass of wine, a coke and an apple juice was less than £50 inc. service last week and was really yummy too.

Passthecake30 · 31/08/2025 20:15

We’ve reduced eating out and have nicer food at home at the weekends instead. We went to F&B last year, spent £120 and it was absolutely inedible.
We do use Tescos club card vouchers in prezzo or pizza express, we tend to save these for dd’s bday treat with her friends.

DiscoBob · 31/08/2025 20:15

One course and one drink in a mid range restaurant might cost £25 inc tip. It is steep, but you just have to either go somewhere cheaper or go less frequently or eat less.

I always take eating out as a big treat and try not to think about the price as if the food and company are great then it is too much fun to feel bad about.

I wish I could afford it more often though, definitely.

StMarie4me · 31/08/2025 20:14

Take my 3 granddaughters to Wetherspoons or Farmhouse Inns these days. Circa £50. Spoons gets a free drink too. And with ND teens/ DD it means they know they’ll like it!

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
MyDogHumpsThings · 31/08/2025 20:14

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.

Should? Just because it was once thus, doesn’t mean it always has to be. You make it sound like eating out is a moral failing!

I accept that it’s a luxury, not a right, and that we need to spend according to our means.

RoseGlass7 · 31/08/2025 20:12

I use Tesco Clubcard vouchers in Pizza Express and don't pay a tip - it is expensive enough and many jobs are on minimum wage. It's that or I don't eat out at all.

TheNightingalesStarling · 31/08/2025 20:12

£15-£20 for a main.
£5 for a drink
Thats £20- £25 already.

Staff need paying, premises need paying for, and food.

AbzMoz · 31/08/2025 20:12

I expect to pay £30 a head for a normal restaurant - and I’d much rather that go towards an independent than a chain if possible.

Of chains, Franco Manca would be my go to pizza place - especially with the loyalty stamps.

OtterlyMad · 31/08/2025 20:12

Yep. This is why we don’t really eat out “casually” any more and we avoid chain restaurants like the plague. Better to out eat less often, but treat ourselves when we do and go to a nice independent place.

DashboardConfession · 31/08/2025 20:11

I think the gap between an ex-cheap chain and say a nice pub has narrowed now. If it's going to cost me £17 for a Frankie and Benny's or Prezzo main I'd rather pay £21 in the local gastro pub.

idratherbedrawing · 31/08/2025 20:11

yep, now always pay over £100 for lunch when we go out as family (kids 10 and 13) even when we don’t drink. We dont usually go to chains as live in London with more variety and have some favourites but all similar price range to places listed. The place has to be pretty good to make it worth it now

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2025 20:10

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

Pizza express pizzas aren’t big enough that this would be sufficient with two teens.

Martymcfly24 · 31/08/2025 20:09

I will only go to the Pizza Express equivalent with tesco vouchers now. 2 adults 2 children was 101 euro they other day but we had 90 in vouchers. Crazy expensive.

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.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2025 20:09

We don’t often go out to eat though. It is very expensive so YANBU to say that, and to avoid it.

Bitzee · 31/08/2025 20:09

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 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!

Wheech · 31/08/2025 20:09

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

Pizza Express pizzas are not large. I think most people eat a whole one to themselves.

londongirl12 · 31/08/2025 20:09

We’ve bought an Ooni pizza oven and saved a fortune making our own pizzas! Would highly recommend.

HauntedHero · 31/08/2025 20:09

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

Fraudornot · 31/08/2025 20:08

And agree Wetherspoons is pretty much as good but could feed 2 adults and 2 teens with drinks for around £45

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