How do I pay for someone else's meal if I'm not there

[SweetHummingbird]

Hi, I'm not sure if I'm looking in the wrong places but I can't find this information online. My parents have their 25 year wedding anniversary this year and I'd like to book them a table and pay for their meal and drinks.
The problem is I think they would protest if I gave them the money and try and use their own instead. They're not so good at receiving gifts, I'm not too sure why.

I'm wondering is it a done thing to pay for someone's meal and drinks in advance (organised with the restaurant)? Has anybody done this before?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Apologies I missed this bit out, I wouldn't intend on being present for the meal as my parents never go out just by themselves, otherwise I would pay at the end of the meal. I hope this makes sense and I haven't waffled too much!

You wouldn't be able to do this as the restaurant don't know how much they will spend. We buy people vouchers for restaurants, could you do this?

Phone the restaurant and talk to them, they can probably take a credit card number and use it to pay.

Call up the restaurant and see if they take card payments over the phone. If they do, then ask if you can leave a deposit of £50 or whatever you think they should spend and then ask them to call and you will pay the remainder on the night. They might let you do that, or they might have a different system in place. All restaurants are different so there really isn't anything anyone on here can say. You need to call and ask.

If they won't at all then ask if they do gift vouchers.

If your parents struggle to receive gifts then they will probably buy the cheapest things possible if you leave your credit card details or insist on paying themselves to the staff.

If you buy a voucher then it's already been paid for and they can't return it so may as well use it.

Thank you all for your quick replies!
I had looked into vouchers but unfortunately this specific restaurant doesn't do them, I will call and ask about leaving a deposit then paying any amount over this, I just wasn't sure if they would think me silly for asking.

Thank you all very much

My aunt bought us a meal for Christmas at a pub that doesn’t do vouchers.
She went in and paid some money and got a written receipt with a business card attached.
We had no trouble using it.

If there is a chance that they will try to pay themselves or order the cheapest possible courses I would consider pre-paying a generous sum. Then you can tell your parents that they can either order enough to use up the full amount or the restaurant makes a nice profit. I'm sure restaurants would do that.

I've done this Op

It was a lovely intimate local restaurant. I literally took in the cash and pre ordered some wine and they sorted it but that was years ago.

I've done this. If it's a hotel it should be easy for them to facilitate. Is there a set menu? You could pre order that plus some drinks to make calculating easier.

Do you live close? Could you pick them up and pay whilst there?

I did this. It was with a voucher but I wanted to pay for the drinks & service charge as well. They took my credit card details & cgarged it to that. Call the restaurant, they will probably want a deposit and may call you to confirm at the end of the meal.

What a lovely idea. I run pubs and restaurants and I’m sure they will bend over backwards to help you sort this.

Ive done this at our local Carluccio's they were brilliant. It was my parents 40th wedding anniversary.

I paid for champagne, a bouquet of flowers, helium balloon and a box of Lovely chocolates to be on the table then when my parents arrived the waitress gave them a card I'd pre-written with gift vouchers in for their meal and drinks. (Handy there they come in £10 denominations so if you don't spend them all you can save them for the next time or you can spend them in their shop on nice things to take home).

When someone has been married 40 years this made more sense than more stuff to add to their house already rammed with stuff!!!!!! Xxx

Ring the restaurant and ask for a gift voucher. I've done this for my parents. Lovely idea!

Just phone the restaurant, speak to the manager and they'll sort it out for you. It's easy. We've bought bottles of wine to be left in rooms or paid money in advance which is then taken off the bill.

I got a cream tea voucher for my parents at a vvv well known place. Phone and ask. Its a lovely idea x

Look at the menu and add up what it'd cost roughly for 2 starters, mains, puds and wine/drinks, add at least 10% tip and leave this money with the restaurant and your phone number incase it goes over.

Our best man did this for our wedding gift. He booked and paid for a 7 course taster menu and wine with each course at a fabulous restaurant on our honeymoon. It was a lovely personal gift (we are both foodies!)
I am sure most restaurants would accommodate this. It's a lovely idea x

My parents used to run a pub. We sometimes had people book a table and pay for a meal (say £50) for someone else, they would pop in later to collect any change/pay overcharge. I would have thought with cards it is even easier...

We’ve often done this for parents and our children. Ring the restaurant and they’ll have a system in place which might be a credit card number. It might be they agree a usual amount and you sort out the difference later.

Thank you everyone who has replied I've read everything and will take all points into consideration.

Just an update, I emailed the restaurant and they replied to say they'd be happy to call me after the meal to settle the bill. Thanks again everyone!

That's great news glad it has all worked out