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What's the worst hospitality you've ever had?

207 replies

Arniesaxe · 18/06/2026 11:16

Not a TAAT but I was on a thread recently where a lot of people were saying they wouldn't expect any snacks, if they'd visited a friend for the afternoon 90 mins drive away, and that just one cup of tea would be sufficient. Many disagreed, saying that if they were the host they'd have at least biscuits/cake or savoury snacks and plentiful drinks for their guests.

I have a very recent example where I travelled for around 40 minutes to visit a friend who was having a gathering and me and other guest I'd come with were not even offered a drink at all! It was fine, I was obviously driving and other guest I brought doesn't drink alcohol but even a glass of water would've been more considerate than nothing at all.

Also I once visited friends in order to go out for the day for food/drinks/trip around the town. Planned to stay over as longish drive and we'd likely have wine with dinner. When I got there, they'd changed their minds and decided to just stay in, watch TV and drink wine. I love wine, but sitting about at home drinking it in the middle of the afternoon is not my idea of fun and I wouldn't have visited them had I known that was their plan, not my thing at all. That was also about an hour and a half's drive. It really affected our friendship.

I am the opposite, anyone visiting even to drop something off or such will at least be offered a tea/coffee even if they're only coming in for five minutes. If I have guests I make sure I have what they want and I fulfil expectations with very little exception. If I am having a proper gathering I try to cover all eventualities, I'd rather have ample leftovers than anyone leave my house hungry/cold/sober thirsty!

OP posts:
Arniesaxe · 12/07/2026 14:37

I remember when my Mum had relatives visiting and I went over for the afternoon. They all decided to have fish and chips and someone went out to get them. I don't eat meat, so I went home and got some food for myself and made it to coincide with their fish and chips. Then once it was being served up, I walked through to the dining room with my food and there was my parents, auntie and uncle and adult children, sister and bro in law etc etc all just starting to eat. No place had been set for me and there was no room. I ate in the kitchen by myself until eventually the youngest member of my family (my young teen niece) came through and said 'Come and sit down Aunt Arnie, I'll sit on the floor for a bit'.

I didn't let her of course, but there's a poor show when the only person who realised that wasn't a great thing to do, to leave someone out completely, was the only child present!

OP posts:
Gardenflowering · 13/07/2026 17:46

I was working a usual 12 hour shift around a week before Christmas and had a large bag of lovely presents for a close family member, her partner & their 10 year old child.

I was working through Christmas, had no time off at all so Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the lot.

Text family member to say I was struggling with time to drop off presents so would it be ok to drop in at around 8 after my shift as I had the presents in my car and could nip out of my way to theirs when I finished my shift.

Reply was “yeah but we are eating tea at that time so drop them round the back of the house”.

She meant literally that they would not open the door to me, I would be interrupting their dinner so trudge through the snow and ice to the rear of the house (unlit by the way) to leave the bag of presents on the back step until they wanted to bring them in.

Hell fucking no.

Ladybyrd · 14/07/2026 15:07

Gardenflowering · 13/07/2026 17:46

I was working a usual 12 hour shift around a week before Christmas and had a large bag of lovely presents for a close family member, her partner & their 10 year old child.

I was working through Christmas, had no time off at all so Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the lot.

Text family member to say I was struggling with time to drop off presents so would it be ok to drop in at around 8 after my shift as I had the presents in my car and could nip out of my way to theirs when I finished my shift.

Reply was “yeah but we are eating tea at that time so drop them round the back of the house”.

She meant literally that they would not open the door to me, I would be interrupting their dinner so trudge through the snow and ice to the rear of the house (unlit by the way) to leave the bag of presents on the back step until they wanted to bring them in.

Hell fucking no.

Good for you. I like a story with a happy ending. CF!

Arniesaxe · 14/07/2026 20:02

Gardenflowering · 13/07/2026 17:46

I was working a usual 12 hour shift around a week before Christmas and had a large bag of lovely presents for a close family member, her partner & their 10 year old child.

I was working through Christmas, had no time off at all so Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, the lot.

Text family member to say I was struggling with time to drop off presents so would it be ok to drop in at around 8 after my shift as I had the presents in my car and could nip out of my way to theirs when I finished my shift.

Reply was “yeah but we are eating tea at that time so drop them round the back of the house”.

She meant literally that they would not open the door to me, I would be interrupting their dinner so trudge through the snow and ice to the rear of the house (unlit by the way) to leave the bag of presents on the back step until they wanted to bring them in.

Hell fucking no.

How awful of them! What did you say?!

OP posts:
Gardenflowering · 14/07/2026 20:34

I didn’t reply and didn’t take the presents. That was around 10 years ago. I’ve seen them maybe 3 times since.
Dropped the presents at another relatives house for them to collect at the same time I dropped their presents off that evening.
I didn’t want their child to not receive his presents.
They never gave me or my kids a single present or card, never made any effort to contact us, zero interest so fuck them.

Arniesaxe · 17/07/2026 18:24

Gardenflowering · 14/07/2026 20:34

I didn’t reply and didn’t take the presents. That was around 10 years ago. I’ve seen them maybe 3 times since.
Dropped the presents at another relatives house for them to collect at the same time I dropped their presents off that evening.
I didn’t want their child to not receive his presents.
They never gave me or my kids a single present or card, never made any effort to contact us, zero interest so fuck them.

Well done you. Some people just do not consider others' feelings at all!

OP posts:
Ladybyrd · 18/07/2026 06:50

Yes I think you handled it well. My instinct was no presents at all but I didn’t realise there were kids involved.

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