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Original poster

Has lack of Premier Inn breakfast ruined the weekend?

489 replies

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 16:33

I mean, it hasn't, not for me, but DH seems to feel otherwise and I don't know if I've been UR. We (us and two dc) were in London overnight to see a show. We would normally maximise our time in the city and leave maybe this sort of time on Sunday, but we've all been ill and still feel a bit tired and rundown and so agreed we'd leave after breakfast and maybe a walk/quick trip to a park or the river.

When I woke I realised our PI was about a 20 minute walk from Shoreditch market where I was sure there are loads of cafes and stalls. Although we normally have the PI breakfast I thought this would be a nice change and mean we would be doing what we had planned (quick trip to somewhere nice and a walk) and could then leave. Also looked up a particular cafe that looked nice. Everyone agreed - all fine.

When we arrived at the cafe there was a queue. DH immediately said in a moody way, 'That's that then,' and started huffing. I said let's walk up (we were at the end of the road) it might not be that bad, but he had walked off. We ended up wandering around the area with him getting increasingly grumpy. Sods law, we weren't really going past any suitable looking cafes, although I'm sure the area is full of them. We did see a Pret but I didn't want that.

We eventually saw a nice independent cafe where we were able to have porridge,pastries, toast and spreads, fresh juice and lovely coffee. We all ate but DH wouldn't stop going on about the bloody PI. Yes, I get that he would eat his body weight there and we ended up with a relatively small breakfast that probably cost more (though our kids are 16 and 18, so no more free PI breakfasts!) but what we had was lovely, the place was lovely, and a bit different, and, ffs, PI will still be there next time. I offered to look for another place or even a Greggs for him to 'top up,' but he went in full strop mode. DS1 loves a PI breakfast too and he didn't moan, and dd was wanting pancakes in the place with a queue but she didn't moan that she didn't end up getting them, it's just him acting like a child. He also moaned about the cost, saying PI breakfast would have done for lunch as well, but we were home in time for a late lunch and no one wanted food on the journey so it's like he's just looking for stuff to moan about.

We're home now but he has said he's sick of me making all the decisions, I'm fussy and nothing is good enough and I'm just hard work. He's gone for a run but it was an atmosphere all the way home. Did I do wrong - I get I could have looked at booking but to me it worked out fine in the end.

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 18/01/2026 18:10

If he agreed without offering his opinion or suggesting an alternative or having to be persuaded then he is being unreasonable. Having a strop for hours because you ate breakfast at one place over another, and had to wait an extra 15 min than anticipated is childish and pathetic. Not offering an opinion and then banging on and on about something afterwards is also childish and pathetic. If he doesn't make a decision, someone has to, and it's not fair to say that you make all the decisions - how many suggestions did he make about what you did at the weekend.

BunnyLake · 18/01/2026 18:09

Tbh I do get rather grumpy if I’m hungry and we’re just wandering around trying to find somewhere, especially if I could have just had something at the PI. Once I’d eaten I would have pulled myself together though, unless this kind of thing was a regular occurrence (someone regularly going off piste and consequently making a simple task more difficult).

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2026 18:09

NorthXNorthWest · 18/01/2026 17:54

I’ve voted YABU.

Your DH and DCs love PI breakfasts. (Mine are the same but I can take or leave them but they are too good value to skip) The breakfast was something they were likely looking forward to + was excellent value (portion and money). Instead, you decide at short notice to switch to a 'naice' café, which they weren’t expecting. Did you not have the opportunity to go somewhere 'naice'/trendy the day before?

They accommodate you, only to find a queue, meaning breakfast clearly isn’t happening any time soon. You then spend ages hunting for the prefect alternative. Your clearly hangry DH and the DCs end up paying more for smaller portions of food they didn’t would not have chosen. The only person who actually got what they wanted here was you.

To top it off, you double down and moan why didn't he just get a Greggs after he traipsed around half of London for an expensive micro breakfast that he didn't want. I’m not surprised he’s annoyed. From the outside, this doesn’t read as a one off, you sound like someone who prioritises their own preferences and expects everyone else to adjust around them.

You’ve clearly not read properly. The DD isn’t a fan of premier inn breakfasts. They always previously ate there despite the OP AND DD not really liking it much. The OP made the suggestion of somewhere else and everyone agreed. They didn’t spend “ages” looking for somewhere else - it was 15 minutes.

The excuse of “hangry” stops at about the age of 10 (if not earlier). If you can’t get a grip of yourself when hungry then you are certainly not mature enough to have a wife and children!

Unijourney · 18/01/2026 18:09

Is your DH comments about you, always making decisions and being fuss correct?

I suspect this is more about those issues rather than a PI breakfast however its cold and damp so walking around searching for food isn't a great way to start the day.

Ask your dh, what both of you could have done to help the situation, what needs to be discussed ahead of time.

OriginalUsername2 · 18/01/2026 18:09

He’s the unreasonable one for ruining what could have been a nice morning. I understand being hangry but an adult should be control their behaviour for the sake of the group.

soupyspoon · 18/01/2026 18:08

CompetitionMyArse · 18/01/2026 17:58

I want to agree with you but sometimes practicality and that sense of 'better the devil you know' trumps finding that exciting little hipster bagel cafe down the back of some Dalston side street. As the OP pointed out, they tried that, there was a massive queue and it didn't work out.

Also when there is four or more of you it can take ages finding somewhere everyone agrees on. Who doesn't love a decent, self service, all you can eat buffet breakfast with loads of choice from light, fresh and healthy to gigantic builder's fry up?

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It has taken me several painful decades to learn this. I am queen of the 'lets find a nice little whatever', I have several identified on tripadvisor but when we get there, either its too busy, they dont take bookings (breakfast places rarely do), its a horrible ambiance, I dont like the table position Im offered, they havent got on the menu what their website has on the menu, it has a horrible smell, any number of reasons and the contingency plans are quickly running out

And I think why didnt we eat in that basic crap place where I would have been fed by now.

ByWarmShark · 18/01/2026 18:07

Have you asked your DH why he was so sulky when he was onboard with the plan? Because if he genuinely was then he's completely unreasonable but if this is the symptom of a deeper issue where he feels railroaded into decisions he didn't agree with then that explains why his reaction was so strong- it could be that it's not about the breakfast at all it's about resentment that he feels like you made the decision and his preference wasn't an important factor in that decision. If on the other hand he said "yes that's a good idea, I'd like that" or something to that effect then he's just being completely unreasonable.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 18:05

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 17:58

I feel I need to clarify (though I thought I had...) a few things:

  • Everyone AGREED to the plan. It may have been a stupid idea, but on one was forced to agree to it.
  • The word 'traipsing' keeps coming up. We weren't. We looked up a place (all happy with the menu) and headed straight there. In retrospect, we should have tried to book and I'll be honest, the thought vaguely entered my head but I dismissed it. When we got there there was a queue. Maybe if we had asked we could have waited and eaten there after a wait, but dh wouldn't entertain it. Maybe they would have turned us away anyway but we don't know.
  • We then headed on to the market (yes, Spitalfields - sorry, got the name wrong) and walked past one Pret, which I rejected. Within 10-15 mins we were inside the cafe we ate in, which was lovely but didn't do cooked breakfasts.
  • The PI breakfast hadn't been paid for and neither would it have been free.
  • Obviously, in hindsight, we should have booked somewhere and not done this in such a spur of the moment way, but, once it was done, my question is, is dh right to be acting like I've ruined the weekend and carrying on sulking? Other people loving PI breakfasts and never dreaming of not having them isn't really relevant.

At this point it seems as though you are letting this ruin your weekend 🤷‍♀️

Dragonflytamer · 18/01/2026 18:05

AhBiscuits · 18/01/2026 17:35

My kids love a PI breakfast and would be gutted to skip it. You can go out to a cafe for breakfast any weekend.

You can go to a Premier Inn breakfast any weekend too! you don't have to be staying there and kids still eat free with an adult breakfast. We go far too often.....

MyBrightPeer · 18/01/2026 18:05

I don’t think you were unreasonable to want some interesting food but I would have booked. Sounds like he just want to eat an unlimited amount tbh.

MammaTo · 18/01/2026 18:03

I am chuckling because my dad absolutely loves a PI breakfast. He’s not a foodie type of person, he wouldn’t thank you for a lovely meal out somewhere - but loves a cooked breakfast so PI is his time to shine. He’d be raging if someone took this away from him.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 18/01/2026 18:03

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 18:01

I mean, ffs. How do you know I can? You don't know what my work hours are, where I live and what the cafes are like, what my budget for treats like this is? Honestly...

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😂😂😂😂

oh come on

Original poster
Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 18:01

AhBiscuits · 18/01/2026 17:35

My kids love a PI breakfast and would be gutted to skip it. You can go out to a cafe for breakfast any weekend.

I mean, ffs. How do you know I can? You don't know what my work hours are, where I live and what the cafes are like, what my budget for treats like this is? Honestly...

OP posts:
Dragonflytamer · 18/01/2026 18:01

I'm definitely team DH on this. The best thing about staying at a Premier Inn is the breakfast - if you're not going to have that, in London you might as well stay somewhere nice.

We go our local Premier Inn even when we aren't staying there for breakfast!

Whothought · 18/01/2026 18:01

InnerAnger · 18/01/2026 16:42

I stay at Premier Inns regularly. But never ever eat breakfast there. There are usually many other better options!

Agreed. He didn’t get his own way and sulked all day. I’m guessing matters would be even worse if you responded to his criticism of you?

louderthan · 18/01/2026 18:01

I dunno, every time I’ve had breakfast at a premier inn it’s been great, and very filling. I live in a place that’s full of independent cafes, quality and service is variable and they are all expensive.
I probably would have gone for the PI breakfast and then found a cafe for coffee and cake before going home but there was absolutely no need for your DH to be a dick about it and still be stroppy now.

Whatwouldnanado · 18/01/2026 18:00

Well it obviously has for DH. PI breakfast next time then. Compromise.

jamandcustard · 18/01/2026 18:00

my question is, is dh right to be acting like I've ruined the weekend and carrying on sulking

Of course that's not okay.

CompetitionMyArse · 18/01/2026 17:59

soupyspoon · 18/01/2026 17:56

Yes he could or should have done perhaps

And then she says 'no I dont want that', like she did with Pret

And he says, well I do. And she says well I dont

And he uses his words to insist that he will have the PI breakfast as suggested

And she either goes along with that or she goes out traipsing around to find a nice little cafe

Cue the next thread 'husband refused to come out for breakfast with us', I was forced to have a crap PI breakfast and had to endure UPF supermarket bread - shudders.

Posters would be falling over themselves to say he was controlling, forceful, selfish, hes already been accused of 'wanting to stuff his face rather than spend time with his family'.

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You are SO right.

NorthXNorthWest · 18/01/2026 17:59

Taweofterror · 18/01/2026 17:53

Indeed. It seems a bit irrelevant to me. The important part is, he agreed to go elsewhere then threw a tantrum when that didn't immediately work out and has carried that on for the rest of the day. It's absolutely ridiculous behaviour over a breakfast!

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He agreed to try a particular place for breakfast. That's the not the same as "I am happy to shlep around London whilst you take your sweet time finding somewhere that meets your needs alone".

JLou08 · 18/01/2026 17:59

I'm a breakfast person, I know not everyone is fussed about it but I would be in a grump if I had a long walk around to find somewhere for breakfast. It would be even more annoying if the original plan had been to have a breakfast I'd been looking forward to right there in the hotel before the long walk.

usedtobeaylis · 18/01/2026 17:58

soupyspoon · 18/01/2026 17:56

Yes he could or should have done perhaps

And then she says 'no I dont want that', like she did with Pret

And he says, well I do. And she says well I dont

And he uses his words to insist that he will have the PI breakfast as suggested

And she either goes along with that or she goes out traipsing around to find a nice little cafe

Cue the next thread 'husband refused to come out for breakfast with us', I was forced to have a crap PI breakfast and had to endure UPF supermarket bread - shudders.

Posters would be falling over themselves to say he was controlling, forceful, selfish, hes already been accused of 'wanting to stuff his face rather than spend time with his family'.

Show quote history

Do you think it ran away from you a little bit there?

Heronwatcher · 18/01/2026 17:58

OuchAndAbout · 18/01/2026 17:50

Lots of replies along the lines of

"My kids love a PI breakfast"
"I'm somebody who needs to eat as soon as I wake up"
"I'd have wanted the PI breakfast" if I was ill and tired"

... You're all grown ups with working communication systems, yes? Then you would have used them at the appropriate time to say "Actually darling, I was really fancying the PI breakfast, can we stick to that? We can always get lunch or a coffee and cake out if you like?"

Use your damn words. Like he didn't. It's not hard!

Edited

But it does slightly depend on how the question is asked and information given. If someone said to me, can we do a walk
to get breakfast, there are loads of nice cafes around here I’d agree because it would seem churlish/ antisocial. If it turned out that there weren’t any decent places, or they all had queues and I ended up with a croissant when I wanted bacon and eggs I might be a bit…miffed the next day, especially if I was cold, run down and hungry. I don’t think I’d behave like the OPs husband mind you but I might need to have a word with myself!

I wouldn’t agree to it in January at all unless somewhere was booked TBH- brunch on a Sunday is really popular- but then I know the area pretty well.

Original poster
Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 17:58

I feel I need to clarify (though I thought I had...) a few things:

  • Everyone AGREED to the plan. It may have been a stupid idea, but on one was forced to agree to it.
  • The word 'traipsing' keeps coming up. We weren't. We looked up a place (all happy with the menu) and headed straight there. In retrospect, we should have tried to book and I'll be honest, the thought vaguely entered my head but I dismissed it. When we got there there was a queue. Maybe if we had asked we could have waited and eaten there after a wait, but dh wouldn't entertain it. Maybe they would have turned us away anyway but we don't know.
  • We then headed on to the market (yes, Spitalfields - sorry, got the name wrong) and walked past one Pret, which I rejected. Within 10-15 mins we were inside the cafe we ate in, which was lovely but didn't do cooked breakfasts.
  • The PI breakfast hadn't been paid for and neither would it have been free.
  • Obviously, in hindsight, we should have booked somewhere and not done this in such a spur of the moment way, but, once it was done, my question is, is dh right to be acting like I've ruined the weekend and carrying on sulking? Other people loving PI breakfasts and never dreaming of not having them isn't really relevant.
OP posts:
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