Would you go and have lunch alone?

[FloraFoxtrots]

And if not, why not?

I'm going out today to have lunch on my own. Have a workman here and want to just concentrate on a couple of emails and err Mumsnet a bit maybe

I mentioned it to a friend and she was horrified (slightly exaggerating there) that I'd sit there like a right old saddo on my own, eating. It's nowhere posh - think along the lines of a generic chain restaurant

So - would you take yourself off and have lunch on your own?

Yes, main benefits
Not having to wash up.
Feeling nutured (as a single parent no one cooks for me!)
Time out
Self care (eating properly)

Small talk with restaurant staff.
I don't go anywhere crowded.
Didn't go in covid but now feel it's fine as restaruant is well organised.

Don't care what others think got used to it.

I love the idea of lunching alone. If I take my teen children for a sports thing somewhere I'll tuck myself into a cafe and enjoy lots of caffeine and a good book. Bliss. To not be able to do things alone, to me, shows insecurity.
I've just reminded myself of the scene in Miranda when the two friends are admiring the solo lady wafting about.

With 2 little kids and working as a nurse i crave time on my own where no one needs anything from me. I feel like the only time that happens is once the kids are in bed but i need to sit with my DH for a little bit. I've started going to the canteen alone when on a day shift to get 30 mins of silence.

As the mum of a 3yo this sounds like a dream but yes I've always done this, no issues.

I love having lunch on my own. Pre covid I travelled a lot for work, so would always be secretly happy to have lunch on my own, rather than with a colleague.

Course I would. I’ve travelled alone so eaten in plenty of restaurants alone!

Love it and don’t feel the need to read. I like to use the time to people watch.

Of course! And do regularly, and breakfast and dinner! If I want to take myself away for a few days and eat in a posh restaurant by myself I do. No one is interested in what you're up to at all - choose a table with a good view though. I have got my post-CV19 hotel/restaurant worked out!

Nothing nicer!

The beauty of it is that if you go to a restaurant alone, who knows whether you are in town for a business conference or just there because you fancy it? Perhaps depends where you live, but I find the smaller the place (I eat out at my local pub alone) you feel you are supporting a local business, and you sometimes get to know staff which is always nice. Restaurant staff never judge the lone diners, its a sight they are used to (I used to be a waitress) and frankly you are easier to serve as its just a table for one, one drink, one meal etc.

I eat lunch out at least twice a week alone. Love it.

Well I'm sat here with my phone and trying to look a bit ... businessy can't help but feel just the tiniest bit awks but obviously not enough to put me off coming!

People watching tricky as basically I'd be staring the the family opposite and that would be weird

@FloraFoxtrots

Well I'm sat here with my phone and trying to look a bit ... businessy can't help but feel just the tiniest bit awks but obviously not enough to put me off coming!

People watching tricky as basically I'd be staring the the family opposite and that would be weird

I take a book, or kindle, or my filofax and catch up on personal scheduling usually, or just browse inane stuff on my phone.

@MaudesMum ah yes! I wouldn't want to sit somewhere in my small town in case someone I know spots me and err thinks I'm a SADDO.

I'm next town along - just 8 miles

Yes of course

Ditto travelled alone

Had a glass of wine in pub after work with a book or the papers

Between lunches in town when I am at work, lunches when I am away travelling for work, and occasionally just lunches where I want a bit of peace from family - I regularly eat in restaurants alone (and breakfasts and dinners too sometimes). I even had a lovely tasting menu in a posh hotel for dinner once on my own, when I needed a break from DD and took off for an overnight spa/food/rest trip.

I very often have friends or colleagues for work or travel meals on other occasions. Or friends or family for more social/non work meals. So I am not a complete loner.

But there is no issue with having a meal on your own if you want - for whatever reason.

@FloraFoxtrots watch this clip for a giggle! m.facebook.com/BBCOne/videos/2224406691112044/

Because if I just want to eat, I eat, but I don’t book or get a table and look at a menu.

I do that when I am with someone as part of the social experience of eating together.

So basically it would take longer, cost more and not serve any purpose.

I have no problem sitting and eating by myself, in or out of public view.

Absolutely, love it and have done it loads. I take a book or a magazine with me, but also like a good people watch. I studied abroad and and started doing it then. There was one little place that always gave me a seat by the window with a good view of the market square. It’s very much the norm in Europe, but for some reason some people look upon it oddly in the UK. Go and enjoy! I’m now wondering if I can squeeze an alone lunch in now before the end of term!

yes, I would have no problem having lunch alone. I used to travel a lot with work and I would have dinner alone too. I never stuck to the hotel restaurants as it passed more time to walk somewhere, eat and then walk back to the hotel. I would go to local independent places or to chains such as Nando's or Pizza Hut's depending what was available. I often went to the cinema myself too. Anything to avoid sitting in the hotel room all night basically!

For anyone who does feel at all awkward and needs a gentle introduction, go somewhere (usually less formal) with one of those long tables that's basically a wide plank of wood in the window so you face outwards where you can watch the outside world go by. Either that or somewhere with a bar inside. You'll feel less conspicuously on your own. (Although I've occasionally dined at extravagant length on my own at very posh restaurants in overseas capitals at proper tables surrounded by dating couples - they make very good observational material as long as you're subtle ).

The advice in vogue from years ago was that it's perfectly acceptable for a woman to go to lunch alone, but if you play with your phone it looks like you've been stood up. I could never go to the cinema alone that feels very awkward to me but I know lots of people that do, especially men. I think I'd feel self conscious in a very nice restaurant alone but I take my mac to coffee shops regularly.

I used to do this regularly before we had children and when my husband was busy writing his thesis. I loved it!!

I love eating out alone. I'd take a book, or better still a lovely notebook so you can write down things that come to mind as you daydream and look interesting and pretend you're JK Rowling writing her latest book.

No but only because I’m not brave enough to! I wouldn’t judge anyone else for doing it and id be feeling envious that I don’t have the courage to do the same.
The closest I get is getting a meal deal or something similar and sitting in a park/on the seafront on my own and eating it.