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Original poster

Going out for Xmas lunch.

17 replies

hsm84 · 05/11/2011 17:01

Dh's family have decided it would be nice to go out for lunch on Xmas Day. We hosted last year for both my family and il's. Fine in theory but this is going to cost £120 for the 4 of us. Don't mind paying £40 for adults but no way a 5 and 6 year old will eat £40 worth of food between them.
More a wwyd?

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 05/11/2011 17:09

Personally I wouldn't like to do this as I suspect that even at £40 a head you won't get as good a meal as you could do at home. It is quite understandable that everywhere will charge a premium price that day so £40 will not get you as good a meal as it would on any other day.

Also I like cooking Christmas Dinner - it really isn't that hard work if you are organised and I think it is much more relaxed and jolly at home - plus you can have a drink without worrying who is driving home.

However, I guess it could be awkward if family are pressing for this. I think I would say that it is unreasonable to expect small children to sit and behave in a restaurant for a large chunk of Christmas Day so you will give it a miss.

Could it be that the PILs think that they are saving you the work of cooking for them and see it as a treat for you?

Grevling · 05/11/2011 17:09

They still take up a seat which is potentially a seat they couldn't sell to an adult - amount of food has nothing to do with it.

ChooChooWowWow · 05/11/2011 17:09

My DB asked if he could take us all out for Christmas lunch this year. He was offering to pay for everyone. That would be him, other bro, my mum, my sister's family of 4 and my family of 8. So 15 people at a restaurant charging £50 per person Shock
However, eating out on Christmas day would actually be my worst nightmare. I always cook at home for 12 people and I love it. Both my sister and I politely declined. DB wasn't happy.

Most places don't charge full price for young children, or could you find out if they could share a meal.

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duckdodgers · 05/11/2011 17:11

There is no way I would go out, and its not just because of the children - I love Christmas in my own home, making dinner and all. Let your DHs family go out for their dinner if thats what they want but you stay at home if thats what you want.

Sirzy · 05/11/2011 17:12

I wouldn't do it, I love Christmas at home and think the costs are daft'

GwendolineMaryLacey · 05/11/2011 17:12

No I wouldn't go out. Christmas dinner out is a notoriously miserable affair. I have never heard one positive experience.

MsMoon · 05/11/2011 17:13

I have done it three years in a row (before last year), and with two small children (one with SN and very boisterous) and it was lovely but very, very pricey. No washing-up, though, and you really enjoy the day when you aren't slaving in the kitchen for half of it!

GetOrfMo1Land · 05/11/2011 17:14

I had the same dilemma - SIL took it upon herself to arrange a table in a pub for the whole family. It was £60 a head, so for the 4 of us £240.

I didn't want to go as I like to stay at home and cook, plus christmas day food in a pub is bound to be shite.

It turned out that others in the family thought the same anyway, so the idea came to nothing (SIL and her husband and kids are still going, in a slight strop it has to be said).

YANBU. Just say you really don't want to eat shite pub food on the day.

GetOrfMo1Land · 05/11/2011 17:15

Plus, it would be horrible for a 5 and 6 year old. Surely they would prefer to be at home, rather than sit in some prim pub for 3 courses and coffee. I would decline for those reasons.

Tidybush · 05/11/2011 17:18

We've done it a couple of times and the quality of the meal was a bit meh. The worst thing though was having no leftovers to pick on for days afterwards.

VeniVidiVino · 05/11/2011 17:19

That does seem a lot of £ for two DCs but when it's Christmas they can charge what they like I suppose. Will your family be offended if you don't join them? They may see it as a special treat as 5Foot5 says, would you rather have them all round to your house again? If so you could try inviting them and see what they say.

I wouldn't go if it was going to cost that much for something I may not enjoy BUT that can be easier said than done with some families.

duckdodgers · 05/11/2011 17:20

Msmoon* you and me are different then, as cooking the dinner and getting it all on the table is a huge part of the day that I do enjoy!

ENormaSnob · 05/11/2011 17:23

I would decline tbh.

The no leftovers would clinch it for me Wink

ChooChooWowWow · 05/11/2011 17:24

I'm with you duck my day would actually be ruined if I couldn't spend half of it in the kitchen with a bottle or two of wine and the Christmas carols on full blast. I love cooking Christmas dinner.

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 05/11/2011 17:27

Hello. We're going to move this to WWYD topic now.

GetOrfMo1Land · 05/11/2011 17:28

I am the same as many on this thread - I love cooking the dinner, and doing all the orep on xmas eve.

duckdodgers · 05/11/2011 17:28

choochoo a woman after my own wine heart!

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