AIBU to not provide food at a birthday party?!

[WobbleYourHead]

DS is going to be 9 next birthday. He wants a skate party at our local roller rink. The party will be 6:15pm until 7:45pm on a Sunday night (they're fixed times for parties and this is the slot available on the date we want).
We have a limited budget and without food he could invite his whole class, friends from cubs, football etc. If we cater the party then it'd drastically limit numbers.
We plan to provide drinks for the kids and there's a cafe on site that will be open if parents want to stay.
WIBU to allow him to invite all the friends he wants and skip the catering?!

I think it's fine. Most kids will have eaten by then. If it was 5 I would say no. Just make sure you make it clear on the invitation that no food will be served. you will need to provide drinks though and hopefully a birthday cake.

My DS had an activity party recently. We hired the local pub and almost every child moaned and groaned about having to leave the activity for pizza and chips. They could easily have skipped it to continue the fun

Oh and if it's Sunday,as long as parents know, they will have time to give their children a meal first. I always ask mine if there will be food and if not(there have been several) I feed them first. doesn't bother me at all as it's not other parents' duty to feed mine! I'd just be pleased they'd been invited to have some fun.

The OP said up thread that there would be 1:10 ratio of adults to children.

It would be fine by me as long as I knew, make it clear on invites and go with wat you ds wants

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all! Mention on the invite that there will be drinks only, the kids just want to have a good time, they won't care! Plus, it is actually OK to do whatever you want, not what is expected, just go for it, the kids will love a massive skate party! Have fun, hope it goes well xxxx

Totally understand your dilemma - and given the lovely treat they would all enjoy, I genuinely don't think it would be un-reasonable not to provide tea. One mum has suggested a quick supermarket trip and I do agree with her - just another £20 might make all the difference. I am very new on here, and am worried that I am not understanding all the abbreviations... sometimes I think I am reading a foreign language ... is there a list of abbreviations that I can look up, to try to understand better?

I think it is ok if you make it clear on the invite so parents can make sure their kids have eaten first. And provide bday cake.

A few people locally have had swimming parties . It wouldnt be so bad, but at one my child wasnt even given a drink...the party lasts just 1 hour too. Also one mum went onto social media saying what a great idea she'd had, no hassle and all over in an hour....
Great I thought, hassle for the parents of children attending though, wet children, clothes, and hungry and thirsty kids..I think we'll refuse an invitation to another swimming party.
So at the very least have lots of drinks and snacks (even crisps and min chocolate bars are better than nothing) and make it clear that there isnt party food.

It would not be an issue at all for me but ONLY if you advised beforehand so I can make sure kids were fed.

I'd put on the invitation something like "because of the skates, we won't be having food but we will have drinks" or something, make it look as if they can't take food into the roller rink and it's not your decision.

Or if you don't want to lie, just write "We won't be eating but there will of course be drinks"

People don't mind at all, as long as they know.

Yes you are. Sorry but just inviting everyone and his uncle is not as important as have a few actual friends with some food

YABU. You can't ask kids to be active for an hour and a half without providing some food.

If my DC were going to a skating party at this time of the day I'd probably ease up on evening meal and just give then a light snack. Partly because I wouldn't want them throwing dinner up all over the place and partly because I'd expect that there would be party food. If you are not going to feed them, then I think you should say so on the invitation. I do think that drinks should be provided though - all that skating is thirsty work.

And - I've done skating parties ... do you really need to invite so many? It's majorly stressful worrying about your own kids hurtling round, never mind the whole class and half the football team as well.

Agree more fun with lots put apple snack bar and crisps in party bag for on way home but mention in the invitation.

It would be fine to do crisps and cakes. My child was invited to a party at this sort of time we didn't actually know food wasn't included so my child hadn't eaten. If we'd have known it would have been fine as it was late, but was rather frustrating to not know and have a hungry child.

Perfectly acceptable not to feed them. My children have been to quite a few parties with no food. There is actually a very popular party venue nearby where food isn't allowed, so it's perfectly acceptable around here. Take plenty of water. Individual bottles with a plain sticker that you can write children's names on are good. Then give them a wrapped up piece of birthday cake to take home with them. But do make sure it is clear to people that you aren't providing food. Hope your son and his friends have an amazing time x

I wouldn't think this was an odd time to have a party in that kind of place at all; exciting for them at that age being out on a Saturday night. DH and I would probably go somewhere near for a meal while DD was at the party. I do think that most parents would presume food though, so would appreciate notice that it wasn't catered so that they could arrange a late lunch or an early tea. I think they'd prefer a great time with lots of people rather than food that they'd tip down their neck at top speed so they could get back out skating. Have a lovely party.

The OP can't do crisps and cake. It's the venues expensive catering or nothing. That's the problem.

The party is at dinnertime, and the kids will be hungry and exhausted after skating. Maybe order some cheap pizzas to be delivered to the venue and give everyone a small slice? I'd be (unpleasantly) surprised if there was no food at all.

i don't see the problem as long as it is clear on the invitation - maybe canvas opinion of a couple of other local mums? But if my DD were invited and I knew there wasn't food I'd make sure she was fed before or after. To be honest, she hardly eats anything at parties anyway as too busy chatting

I cannot even remotely imagine watching my child open 50 birthday presents after the event knowing that I hadn't provided refreshments for the guests of any kind.

But seriously - of course you need to provide something, even if its' just a generous portion of birthday cake, ice cream and a drink. With a nice party bag.

My dd is having a disco. No formal meal but we're offering crisps, drinks and cheap doughnuts if they get hungry!

Just to mention that when dd had her 9th year old ice skating party, only the minority knew how to iceskate. I was skating from one fallen child to the other. Nightmare as resulted in 1 bad injury (break). It's nearly like having a swimming party, with lots of children ont able to swim and a 1/10 ratio adult/child

As it's an evening session I don't think you're required to provide any food. You could have cake and drinks