I can't eat a pub Sunday lunch on my own can I?

[Shannith]

I'll look sad.

Live in a village with 3 pubs. The one on the edge does an amazing Sunday roast.

But I have no one to go with. If I drive I'd go to a ransom country pub and probably not care.

I might see someone I vaguely know.

I normally don't mind, even enjoy eating on my own but Sunday lunch just seems taboo.

DD is with her dad and I have nine to ask.

Should I risk it? I don't want to feel awkward. Even phoning up and booking for one makes me feel weird.

I am here! Nice table looking into the garden.

Roast pork or beef? I'm erring towards pork.

I did it! The person at the bar looked at be a bit strangely but fuck em.

Well done, I’ve done this before.

Love looking at menus :)

What did you go for?

Ooh the pork, definitely- it's got crackling!

V envious here: in the local South London Wetherspoons with two bickering kids and they're out of garlic bread, ribs, and onion rings. Would LOVE a roast lunch on a country pub.

And stylish sunglasses too!

I don't really know why you think anyone would look twice at you, particularly the staff. Thousands of people eat out in their own every day in the UK.

Hope you enjoy your lunch, nobody is judging you.

The plaice would be my choice, yum.

Enjoy it. I love eating out on my own. I can just enjoy it without being bothered by anyone, having to make conversation, just faff about on my iPad (since it was hammered in to me as a child that one simply does not read a book at the table). I do it all the time for work.

I’d go for the pork.

My DH hates eating out so the only time I do it, is if a friend wants to go which is very rare. Last time was about 2 years ago. I’ll have a coffee in a coffee shop on my own but not a full dinner.

Maybe I should just decide ‘fuck it’ next time and take myself off and leave DH and DS at home.

Even on my birthday, the best offer I got was an Indian takeaway collected on the way home from taking DS to an event. It was a crap meal too. There are no decent Indian/Pakistani curry houses within 200 miles of here. (Not UK)

Have the lamb chop. That sounds divine!!

I didn't eat but went to a pub on my own before meeting friends for dinner. I sat in the garden with a cold beer for just over an hour and I loved it. Enjoying your own company rocks!!

I used to work in a pub, people ate alone all the time. I never thought anything of it. I'm glad you went!

I hope you get a pudding! 🙂

I've lived in the village for 7 years, I thought fairly incognito. Just lived to the other side of the village (so 500 metres) and have discovered it's a haven of gossip.

I suspected this for years. Now I know it's true

I suspect I may have unknowingly been the subject of some of it.

I was seriously included in a conversation about xxxx from xxxx cottage sitting on a bench for longer than normal the previous week.

Pork. And crackling

That looks amazing!!

Any starters? And what’s for dessert?

I love looking at menus!

I know this might sound patronising but I’m proud of you.

Ooh that looks amazing

I was seriously included in a conversation about xxxx from xxxx cottage sitting on a bench for longer than normal the previous week.

Brilliant!

I'm so jealous I fucking love doing this! I'm shameless I'll happily bring my iPad and pop my earphones in to watch my favourite things while I eat my favourite meals!

I don't know why but It's weirdly liberating a bit like going to the cinema by yourself when you really want to see something.

My mum said when I was a self loathing self conscious teenager to pull myself together because everyone is too busy thinking about how they look to give a shit how you look. She could've put it more gently but it's so true!

Enjoy it OP, especially the crackling mmmmmmm

Crackling !😋

Thank you all. So glad I came out.

It was delicious. And I ordered extra jug of gravy so I could save the Yorkshire pudding for last and eat it with hot gravy and English mustard.

Have asked for the desert menu.

I'm weirdly proud of myself. It's been a very tough year health wise and 3 months ago I'd not even have been able to walk to the pub.

Pudding choices...

I have never taken photos of food or menus before. I'm hoping they'll think I'm some kind of restaurant reviewer and not weird.

I might even sit suspiciously on a bench for no reason on my way back just to up the village excitement a bit.

One of my greatest pleasures is a solo trip to a National Trust property, having a proper good look around the house or garden, buying the guide book then reading it whilst having a cream tea.

ooh I'd go crumble or sticky toffee pudding

v jealous!

Do it, it's great! I went for lunch on my own last week and I loved it. Peace and quiet on my own it was fantastic!

Sticky toffee pudding and honeycomb ice cream.

@mycatisblack say fuck it. My cat is black (and a bit white) and says do it.