Splitting the meal bill with a large group

[BrassicaBabe]

So, going out with work colleagues for the first time since Covid. There wi be over 20 of us for a curry. Mostly drinkers. But a good chunk of non drinkers too.

Without sharpening a pencil and working out 20 x individual bills is there a fair and logical way of splitting the bill that folks have had success with?

We normally split it and the non- drinkers just pay less - maybe by about £10-15 or so depending on the bill. 20 separate bills is a pain. Totting every piece of bread up is miserly. I generally think if you aren’t happy with that then don’t eat out in groups of friends.

I really can’t get worked up over someone having an extra naan and one more glass of wine than someone else. If there is a massive piss taker (and we don’t have this in our group go friends) then they should stump up more.

Personally I'd rather that friends will come out for dinner knowing they can just pay for what they can afford to eat/drink without worrying about feeling pressured to split a bill.

We went out for a birthday recently and there were very different budgets around the table but we all wanted to be there so we paid for what we ate/drank. I'd have done very well out of a bill split but I'd never expect friends to sub my cocktails.

@runninglikewater Yes with different budgets I can see why that would work. We tend to have similar budgets/drink a similar amount and eat together often so it all comes out in the wash.

To be honest, if friends were struggling some of us would just pay for them so they could come out. This happened recently. Bill paid discreetly - friend told not to worry about it.

Every group of friends works differently though.

@Hollypups and @rookiemere thats a true observation.

However it’s often the case (in our group anyway) that the alcohol drinkers also drink soft drinks with meals at the same time as wine and then have coffees etc at the end of a meal.

Split the order into 2.

Drinkers and non drinkers.

Then each person in each drinking or non drinking group split the bill between them.

If that person knows they can continue to walk all over the rest of you, they will do so and laugh about it behind your back. You can only be a doormat if you lie down in front of other people to use.
Separate checks the next time and if they ordered something cheap that time, I'd say something like, "Oh, I guess you only like to eat high on the hog when others are going to pay for some of it?"
Of course, I can honestly say it would not have gotten to that point because I cannot stand to be taken advantage of in any way. I learned a long time ago that "No" and "That isn't fair" are sentences worth remembering. A true friend would not make having to remember those words such a priority.

I think whatever you go with say it upfront, if you can just do individual. If there's drinkers and non drinkers it's very unfair to the non drinkers.

Agree. That seems so unfair! This is the worst way to do it that I can think of 🤣

Chances are since the meal was over 6 months ago its probably been sorted and 🙄

😳🤣

I’m organising a lunch at a restaurant for my mums upcoming 70th birthday. 24 of us going. I’ve informed our group that everyone will be paying for themselves plus tip. Fair for all.

I do hope they are not still falling out over the bill. That would be really 😳

Big Al strikes again

Generally speaking, with a large group there's not much difference between dividing it equally and doing individual bills. Usually it's not worth the tedious bistromathics for a couple of quid.

I'd contact the restaurant and ask if they can do a fixed price menu for 2 courses, and for 3 courses, and that way everyone should pay a 2 course price or a 3 course price, plus coffees after if they have it. And tell everyone to settle their own drinks by buying at the bar,
Makes the maths SO much easier.

If that’s been your experience then great - I’ve been to plenty of large group meals over the years where it’s very definitely not just been a couple of £ of a difference. I imagine many on here have had the same experience otherwise this wouldn’t even be a thing.

Just noticed this is a zombie thread - so annoying

@SirChenjins -Hence my use of the words "Generally speaking" and "usually" to indicate that this is not always the case.

Im aware of the meaning of usually and generally speaking. If it was usually a case of only a couple of quid, then generally speaking, these threads wouldn’t crop up as often as they do and it would be an issue - generally speaking.

*wouldn’t be

Ask for individual bills. Or je etíope just works out what they've had

But a couple of my friends will just have water (I think that's becoming more common) and others will have 1 coke or Fanta at £2.80.

Maybe it's regional, but it's not been £2.80 for a Coke around here for ages. It's £2.25 for a bottle of Coke in Pret. It's £4 or so for a pint of Coke in a restaurant, £6ish for a glass of wine...

@SirChenjins They turn up because people very rarely do the math and realise that there is generally only a couple of quid in it if it's a large group.

Not at all. They turn up because posters have been stung by others who order pricey drinks and multiple courses when others in the party are on a budget, and then get shirty when others in the group decide they don’t want to subsidise the expensive choices others have made - which come to far more than a couple of quid of a difference.