Is this rude? (bday party related)

[tricolouredcockerspaniel]

Help, not sure what the etiquette is regarding this!

I am attempting to organise a birthday dinner for myself and a friend with our work friends in a fortnight. However the problem is that as we are a group of at least 25 people, they want a deposit which is going to be £6 for each person (this will come off the cost of their food). Is it rude to send out an email asking for this (and all asking the 10 or so people I haven't heard from to let me know)? I plan to add on the end that if people don't fancy the meal they can always meet us afterwards as we'll be going for drinks.

I don't in any way expect people to pay for us or bring presents, but I don't want to pay £100+ upfront (particularly when there are a lot of maybes)... For our work christmas meal everyone paid a deposit and were fine with it, but it feels different as this a a personal dinner!

“Yes, it's rude.
Book somewhere without weird strings attached. Charging for a deposit is oddball behaviour.”

No it isn’t. It really isn’t. It is common practice where I work. None of us earn a lot so no-one expects to have a birthday meal out paid for by someone else, or for them to stump up all of the deposit up front.

Knowing what a pain in the arse it is to organise events like this, requesting a deposit is perfectly normal. I wouldn't chase people though, just state it's £6pp and needs to be paid by xxx. Anyone who misses the deadline misses out, simple as that. As long as you make it clear that's the arrangement people can't whinge if they don't pay on time.

Not rude at all. I planned a hen night on Saturday, and the restaurant needed at £10pp deposit. Everybody transferred their money to me, and I paid the restaurant. The money came off the bill