Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2025 20:08

You could cut out the wine to make it cheaper.

londongirl12 · 31/08/2025 20:08

It’s the drinks that really bumps up the price. Even soft drinks now are around £4

ThejoyofNC · 31/08/2025 20:08

Nandos prices these days are an absolute joke and I no longer go there.

mamagogo1 · 31/08/2025 20:07

Pizza express is expensive. It’s perfectly possible by opting to go for lunch or early evening's deals or places that aren’t so expensive. Our local restaurants (independent) all are £15-20 for a main, wine is running at £7.50 per glass. But all have offers like 1/3 off on Mondays, set course dinner before 7pm or similar

MessageMystery · 31/08/2025 20:06

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

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

Fraudornot · 31/08/2025 20:06

There was a long running thread on this recently (can’t link as on phone) but we mostly all agreed that eating out has become very expensive for very mediocre food.

Neveranynamesleft · 31/08/2025 20:06

I agree that for pizza type meals £100 is pushing it. Everyone is feeling it these days, eating out is not as easy as it used to be.

HermioneWeasley · 31/08/2025 20:05

It is hard to eat out for 4 for less than £100, but Pizza Express have a deal for 4 for £50 which is amazing value these days, so it can be done

SummaLuvin · 31/08/2025 20:03

not sure what it's likes for chains who have economies of scale, but I know my local independent hospitality businesses are finding it harder than ever - they are trying to strike the balance between not increasing prices too much, while NI going up, rent and rates increasing, food prices increasing, gas and electric... There have been countless threads recently about how everyone is finding their food shop more and more expensive.

That being said you could probably keep it to under £80 if you commit to everyone having a main each and no sides, puds, or drinks. You're obviously not being unreasonable to feel dining out isn't worth the cost anymore, but I don't think it's price gouging.

Original poster
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

OP posts:
Cam1981 · 31/08/2025 19:59

That’s why I go to Wetherspoons.

BeefAndHorseradishSandwich · 31/08/2025 19:59

Depends what you’re buying I guess.

Swipe left for the next trending thread