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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:
Incandescentangel · 20/01/2026 09:56

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.

Your last paragraph, pot and kettle spring to mind!

Thecatandme · 20/01/2026 09:34

metellaestinatrio · 20/01/2026 08:41

I work in the area and to be fair to OP, if it‘s the Pret I’m thinking of there isn’t really anywhere to sit in - so sulky H would still probably have been sulking about having to eat in the street!

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🙂🙂

Think, tbh, that if I was as hungry as some of them appeared to be I'd have wanted to grab something there - seating or no seating. Maybe a snack and then move on?

I'm not excusing sulking - lived with it with my ex wife - and it's horrible. But - on the face of it anyway - there seemed to be no consultation about whether or not to stop at Pret. Recognising that the husband had refused to queue before - which I sort of get when you probably don't know how long it may be and you are hungry

I think the husband should have probably stuck with PI - with whoever wanted to stay with him. But - from the story so far - I'm not sure it's 100% on him

RottenBanana · 20/01/2026 09:29

"One persons sulking is another's legitimate annoyance.'"

An adult still being annoyed several hours later about not getting to eat breakfast where you wanted is not legitimate. It is childish sulking.

GasPanic · 20/01/2026 09:24

One persons sulking is another's legitimate annoyance.

It sounds like they were tired and well prepared for something that they looked forward to and then were dragged off script in the pursuit of loveliness.

If a Premier Inn breakfast is a fixture of staying in the Premier Inn, then probably better to inform them sometime well before of the new plan and get it agreed and expected rather than going for a change of course at the last minute.

BunnyLake · 20/01/2026 09:10

Oldwmn · 20/01/2026 04:39

They're fine & convenient. The last thing I want to do first thing in the morning is traipse about looking for some mythical 'better' place. You waste time, the 'better' places are always rammed & the rest not worth the hassle. I'm team DH.

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The worst full English I’ve had was at a fancy restaurant in a fancy part of London, and it was very expensive. Some of the best breakfasts (if you’re looking traditional English as opposed to Continental pastries) are the basic cafes.

Normal to be a bit grumpy in the moment but once you’ve eaten that should be the end of it. I’ve been grumpy when hungry and ended up eating somewhere I didn’t like at someone else's behest, but a voice in my head tells me to shut up and get over it because I know I could easily keep going on about it.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/01/2026 09:08

KimberleyClark · 18/01/2026 17:51

PI breakfasts are shit since they stopped doing the cooked breakfast buffet style. I prefer to choose my own.

We had 4 PI breakfasts over Christmas - all buffet style.

And to whoever thinks pastries, even ‘massive’ pastries, are a good substitute for anyone who enjoys a probably occasional, cooked breakfast, let me tell you, they’re not.

metellaestinatrio · 20/01/2026 08:41

Thecatandme · 18/01/2026 18:26

We love a PI breakfast

It's rare that we have a full English so we always have one if we are staying somewhere.

Beyond that - this seems to be a bit of both BU. If DH had wanted to stay at PI he should have said so (but as a PP says it might be a bit to do with how it was presented). And long sulking is not on. But the bit that might have got to me (especially if tired and not well) was the OP vetoing Pret. Not a big Pret fan but not the point. As far as I can see there was no discussion about it - just "I didn't want to go there"

If the trip out was all agreed by everyone then surely they should have had a conversation about whether or not to stop there too?

I can see the not wanting to queue if there was no idea of how long the wait was

I work in the area and to be fair to OP, if it‘s the Pret I’m thinking of there isn’t really anywhere to sit in - so sulky H would still probably have been sulking about having to eat in the street!

Original poster
Liesmorelies · 20/01/2026 08:14

Look, everyone wasn't ill and grumpy. We've had colds, that's all. Only mentioned it as we would normally spend as much time as possible in wherever we've gone for the weekend on the Sunday, but people on here don't know that so maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it. It's just I thought everyone might start saying why didn't you have the PI breakfast and then go for a nice lunch, and we weren't staying for lunch.

No one was grumpy other than dh. It's done now and we're over it. I'm not ending the marriage over it but if the sulking becomes a habit...

OP posts:
YouWillNeverGuessMyUsername · 20/01/2026 07:31

Hopingtobeaparent · 20/01/2026 07:16

Wow this thread has gone nuts!!

@Liesmorelies I think getting a more cultured breakfast while in London was a great idea and a good experience for the teens, and a nice contrast to having the usual PI breakfast.

Hubby is a man child. Was he hung over? Does the boy man need his mum wife to pack him snacks? I’d be tempted to leave him home next time. He clearly doesn’t have the same sense of adventure as you.

There does seem to be some underlying conversations that might be helpful to have with him though, or to try. The behaviour he role modelled that morning was not ok.

Glad the show was good! 👍🏻

Come on, everyone was ill, grumpy and hungry.

Have you never been feeling that way and snapped or anything?

Hopingtobeaparent · 20/01/2026 07:20

2Rebecca · 20/01/2026 00:13

My husband wouldn’t sulk but living with and marrying a sulker is a choice. You can choose a non sulky man. If you choose a sulker there’s no point complaining about it. Most men I know prefer cooked breakfasts over fancy sour dough and pastries but wouldn’t sulk all day. That’s just dysfunctional

@Liesmorelies Seems it’s your fault again….

Sadly, it seems quite a lot of men become sulkers, or much more sulky at least, as they age. But yes, the warning signs are probably there earlier on. Once you’re invested in though, it has to reach a tipping point for a drastic shake up.

Seriously though, have you started considering a life without hubby, OP? The kids are getting older… he does seem to be going down the miserable route… 🤷‍♀️

Hopingtobeaparent · 20/01/2026 07:16

Wow this thread has gone nuts!!

@Liesmorelies I think getting a more cultured breakfast while in London was a great idea and a good experience for the teens, and a nice contrast to having the usual PI breakfast.

Hubby is a man child. Was he hung over? Does the boy man need his mum wife to pack him snacks? I’d be tempted to leave him home next time. He clearly doesn’t have the same sense of adventure as you.

There does seem to be some underlying conversations that might be helpful to have with him though, or to try. The behaviour he role modelled that morning was not ok.

Glad the show was good! 👍🏻

Oldwmn · 20/01/2026 04:39

Crikeyalmighty · 18/01/2026 16:43

Apart from the fact they are as much as you want , they are spectacularly middling quality ‘at best’ - personally I find them utterly tasteless and think they appeal to greedy people who value quantity over quality - so no YANBU

They're fine & convenient. The last thing I want to do first thing in the morning is traipse about looking for some mythical 'better' place. You waste time, the 'better' places are always rammed & the rest not worth the hassle. I'm team DH.

disturbia · 20/01/2026 02:00

You do sound a bit bossy to be fair

2Rebecca · 20/01/2026 00:13

My husband wouldn’t sulk but living with and marrying a sulker is a choice. You can choose a non sulky man. If you choose a sulker there’s no point complaining about it. Most men I know prefer cooked breakfasts over fancy sour dough and pastries but wouldn’t sulk all day. That’s just dysfunctional

Namechangerage · 19/01/2026 21:15

anon666 · 19/01/2026 20:48

This feels like a classic male/female axis. With food, my dh would always go for quantity over quality. He loves the PI breakfast and almost sees it as a personal challenge how much he can pack in.

Whereas some overpriced artisan cafe would drive him mad.

Totally different for me. Opposite.

Would he sulk if you wanted to go to the artisanal place one day?

Namechangerage · 19/01/2026 21:14

helpfulperson · 19/01/2026 09:17

The coffee is bog standard costa coffee. Not the most amazing coffee but exacrly the same as on any high street.

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Exactly. If I was around the corner from loads of independent coffee roasters where I can get a truly delicious coffee and pastry rather than a “bog standard” Costa style cup, it’s a no brainer.

anon666 · 19/01/2026 20:48

This feels like a classic male/female axis. With food, my dh would always go for quantity over quality. He loves the PI breakfast and almost sees it as a personal challenge how much he can pack in.

Whereas some overpriced artisan cafe would drive him mad.

Totally different for me. Opposite.

MaddestGranny · 19/01/2026 20:30

Goodadvice1980 · 18/01/2026 21:25

OK, so next steps then OP?

Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life, living with a sulker who just wants to vegetate on the sofa?

just what I was going to say. Are you planning to grow old with this curmudgeonf? The DC will be grown up and away at some point.

You'll be stuck with him. I'd start planning now. See yesterday's thread on starting a Running Away Fund. Solidarity, OP.

riceuten · 19/01/2026 20:17

Man child who throws a Freddie because he doesn’t get his way

StarlightLady · 19/01/2026 19:50

CompetitionMyArse · 19/01/2026 16:31

But four of you could a have a full continental breakfast with as much Costa coffee as you like for 8.99 or 10.99 for the full cooked option, and that can cost even less if you get it included in a special offer room deal. You'll probably end up paying 8 quid in most cities for a large coffee and a croissant or pastry alone these days.

If you've got a long journey or you are on a day out with a packed schedule, a big breakfast negates the need for everyone to stop and buy an expensive lunch too. An M&S sandwich will suffice for those who really need to eat three times a day. And under 16s eat free. It's a no brainer for families on a budget with teens with hollow legs.

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I think we are more on the same page here than first appeared.

BooBooDoodle · 19/01/2026 19:36

He’s a man, they require watering and feeding 10 minutes after they get up. Just go down for breakfast and let them eat. Completely bloody useless and awkward gits otherwise. I’m sure if they had a belly full, you’d get to eat where you wanted to later on without any complaint. Are you always so insistent OP?

Dery · 19/01/2026 19:24

“Glitterandmud · Yesterday 16:54
I do think you complicated things unnecessarily, sounds like you spent a lot of time wandering about and hungry when, if you had just had the PI breakfast, you'd have been done and out enjoying your morning.
Given that you said you'd all been ill and still not 100% I'd have taken the easy option over the added stress of finding somewhere, which is an absolutely fine choice to make when everyone is well and in the mood.
Doesn't mean your DH was reasonable to behave like a child though!”

This with bells on.

Ellebelle01 · 19/01/2026 19:23

Life is far too short for these types of situations 😆

helpfulperson · 19/01/2026 19:12

This really isn't anything to do with breakfast. DP perceives that OP steamrollers everyone into doing what she wants. Only she knows whether that is true.

I holiday with a friend who passive agressively just keeps stating her want even if everyone else wants to do something else. So for example everyone except her would agree PI breakfast and she will sit at the table stating 'i would have prefered to go out' every few minutes but wont actually go on her own.

Newsenmum · 19/01/2026 19:10

StMarie4me · 19/01/2026 18:49

PI breakfasts are great! Are you being a snob?

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Theyve definitely gone downhill. Price same, quality pretty bad.