When you have a day out, do you eat out or take a pack-up?

[TwoMagnificentLabradors]

Until a couple of years ago, we used to think nothing of dropping into a low- key restaurant ( Pizza Express, Giraffe etc.) on a day out. Then three things happened:

All hospitality shut for months and we got used to taking a packed lunch on our barely-legal day-long hikes.

The kids got enormous and started ordering from adult menus. No more humous, carrots, breadsticks and a teeny pizza for £4.99.

Restaurants and cafes put their prices up to cover rising costs.

I have become the proud queen of the pack-up. We were the family shamelessly scoffing our cheese and ham rolls on the forecourt of Liverpool Street Station today. Our new ways mean healthier food, saving 80-100 pounds on a day out and everyone getting what they like to eat.

We still eat out. But save those outings for special occasions and decent (not food pinged from a microwave) venues (or street food markets, I love those!)

Anyone else changed their ways of late?

I have never heard ‘pack up’ except on MN. It’s a packed lunch or picnic in these parts (South Midlands)

Honestly no, not unless there would be no other food available.

I find packed lunches a bit depressing to eat. It also feels like too much effort to organise and make lunches on top of getting ready for a big day out, as well as inconvenient to lug big bags around with us.

Pack up.

I hate it. We only get to go to close by NT places as dh gets a family pass from PIL for christmas each year, but for once, I would love to eat out somewhere or even get an ice cream or even just a cup of tea.

Last time we ate out of was my 35th birthday - I’m 43 next week! So fed up of being broke.

Oh interesting! This is where dialect and accent really fascinate me. I'm in the York area and everyone calls it a pack up. I also lived / worked around Bradford and it was common there too.

I see eating out as part of the enjoyment of the day!
It's one thing bringing a picnic if you are going to the beach or something like that, but if in a town I'd seek out an interesting cafe or street food. I'd try and avoid chains.

Definitely not Irish. I’ve only ever heard it on here and assumed it was UK regional. I have to say I also find it irrationally irritating, despite recognising that this is deeply unreasonable of me.

This thread also reminds me of English relatives who specialised in rather grim little meals (flasks of tea, Tuc crackers and cheese, custard creams) eaten in lay-bys on folding chairs they kept in the car boot, within feet of traffic. They were both extremely comfortably off and had social pretensions (as a child I was fascinated because the husband wore driving gloves and cravats), so it wasn’t cost, it was some basic joylessness.

For a day out it depends on type of day out. In summer months though where it's easier to grab a picnic bench and eat ur lunch, we bring stuff with us. Like trip to zoo, adventure park etc.

I actually cheat quite a lot though as I go to Morrisons and buy some meal deals! I get fruit pots as the snack though and bring some crisps from home. It's cheaper than eating out but mainly if we are on a day out we don't want to stop for long and have to queue up to get something.

A day out at softplay, trampoline park or swimming, cinema then we buy food on the premises or nip to mcds on way home.

It depends where we're going. A warmish day out at a National Trust place, take a picnic.
A day in London, eat out. We did take a picnic a few times but tbh it was a pain carrying it around all day.

I do think what 'eating out' to one family is can be completely different to another family.
Grabbing a sausage roll and drink from Greggs to some people is 'eating out'. For others it has to be a cafe or restaurant.

Varies depending on what we're doing and the time of year - I wouldn't fancy a picnic in January. I would absolutely take a picnic to the beach in July. And I always take sandwiches to the zoo, because the food is shit.

Mostly I think we stop at the M&S near our house and grab some food. We might do a chain restaurant if that suits but it is expensive, so not often. Sometimes we make sandwiches, which is cheaper but not as nice. Just depends!

Nothing has changed for us since Covid.

If travelling, we'll have a picnic rather than buy overpriced food in a service station. Also when the children were small we'd take a picnic if going to a zoo or theme park. Also would take picnic f out for a walk or at the beach.

If visiting a town or city we'd probably eat out but would opt for a pub lunch which tend to be cheaper than Pizza Express/Giraffe.

We almost always eat out. It’s part of the occasion for us. On the times that we don’t, we get some bits from m&s. But I hate carrying things around and then the sandwiches are sweaty by the time you eat them.

We don't do days out any more as DS is too old but we always ate out.

We always eat out.

Beach picnics are the worst! Beach day = fish and chips or a pasty and ice cream at the very least. The grim sandy sandwiches and bottles of warm squash 🤮

Fine if picnics are not your thing but when you do it often, you learn tricks like freezing small juice cartons, using ice packs and cool boxes to keep things from getting squashed and warm.
I've found loads of interesting recipes and ideas that make picnics really nice. My dc are happy to have picnics and packed food.
We do eat out too but that's usually for evening meals or brunches.

Exactly. Plus getting it all down to the beach in the first place. Horrible.

We have always taken a packed lunch or snacks, depending how long our trip is. We couldn't afford to eat out every time we go on a trip somewhere, although we do occasionally eat out and we do often go for tea/coffee and a traybake or whatever. Even that can be eye wateringly expensive!

Mostly packed lunch as I hate the waste of all the plastic packaging you get with shop bought take out sandwiches, drink, crisps.
Always took my lunch when I worked away from home.
Yesterday I meet some friends for a walk at our local NT. we had home made soup and bread in the car park. Full table and camping chairs out with soup heated up on the stove in my campervan.

I wouldn't want chips or a pasty on a hot day though. Plus with a small child I need easily accessible food, not to be trudging off to a food van. Also, ice blocks are your friend. No sweaty sandwiches here. And I would always get an ice cream.

Most of the time we's just ask what everyone wanted on the beach when lunchtime arrived. Very often we would go to the beach between mealtimes though to avoid any of it and have a nice sand free eating experience.
I don't remember it being a major problem but i was determined to not be lugging loads of food/drink and ice blocks about.

I'm happier to walk to the beach front chip shop/pasty place than to make a picnic. We're active on the beach with surfing/body boarding/paddle boarding - sandy sandwiches, just don't cut it.

A baguette, cheese, fruit etc in the park is fine - but I'd still rather buy it in the cafe than cart it about.

If going to London for the day, we usually compromise and buy Pret sandwiches, have an Itsu or something from a street-food truck. That still feels a treat but costs £30 for the family rather than £80+ in a sit-down restaurant.