AIBU to have a party with no food

[legoqueen]

Landmark birthday & have around 70 people invited to an evening in a pub. Starting at 8pm, DH & I have decided to provide some drinks & nibbles but no 'buffet', mainly due to logistics not cost. Another friend did this & with the late start it worked fine, but one guest has expressed horror surprise at this - views please.

I don't know why people are so adamant this isn't a party if there isn't food I've been to plenty of parties in pubs where there's no food and you buy your own drinks, but there's a section of the pub or a function room just for you so you're not just in the pub. One of these was a big landmark birthday, and the hosts provided a welcome drink which was very generous. I've also been to parties in people's houses where they've asked everyone to bring a bottle and the food costs have been split between all the guests. Doesn't bother me because I go to these parties to celebrate with people I care about, not for a free meal.

A landmark birthday and you’re having a party with no food....? It’s the tackiest thing ever. Obviously, you have no shame, if you aren’t the least bit embarrassed about it.

Spam88 but I assume the OP will not be supplying or paying for drinks either.

So no food, no drink, no entertainment, she is not even supplying the venue as the pub belongs to someone else.

So how is it a party?

speakout the OP is hiring a live band!

At a friends recent 30th vebue couldnt do food... she pre arranged with pizza hut to deliver 300 worth of pizza at a pre agreed time. Something for everyone and hot food.... went down a treat!

speakout the OP said they're providing drinks. But even if they weren't I still don't see the problem. A load of people gathering to celebrate something is a party as far as I'm concerned.

Unless she’s name changed, OP has not said that she’s hiring a band.

Bloody hell, where did I read about the live band then? No idea!
Must be another thread or I dreampt it

I've been to 'drinks and nibbles' parties it said on the invitation. Otherwise food-less parties tend to be 18ths and 21st birthdays, once it gets to 30 onwards there's a buffet/chip van/hog roast.

We did once go to a wedding with no wedding breakfast, and no warning on the invitation. That was a long, hungry day.

Bambi it's not really expecting too much at all to expect there to be food at a party.

@ Rousette - that did make me laugh! I don't want you to think you're mad!

You've read it on here but it wasn't the OP who had paid for a band for her/his foodless party .

Call it drinks and make it from 9pm.

Thanks Guardsman I still have some of my marbles

I wouldn't expect food at a party in a pub at that time, other than maybe some crisps. Some people on here are totally obsessed with food. It depends on your group of friends/relatives, and what's normal for you.

Call it drinks and tell people you will be there from whatever time an£ that they are welcome to come along whenever they like.

Drinks party with nibbles sounds ok

thered have to be food for me too.especially as the evening would be spent before hand with kids getting thm fed ready for bed etc. so then wouldn't have tea ourselves as wed expect to have it out.
sometimes we are only just having tea or finshiing by 8

suppose it depends on the nibbles...some people nibbles are not another persons nibbles lol.

If food at the pub is difficult because of logistics I would choose a different pub.
I would definately expect food at a party

I’d be disappointed. I’ve never heard that f a party that did not include food?

Finding this thread strange because I'm a) quite fat and b) quite posh and I 1) could survive a couple of hours without food and 2) wouldn't expect anything other than maybe sausage rolls, crisps etc at a pub party for that many people.

Although I would say, OP, it's better to warn people that it's just nibbles and then surprise them with something slightly more substantial (cheese board, sausages, etc) than the other way round.

I'm not sure if you are paying for the drinks, but if you are not, I would suggest billing it as a "get together" in the pub rather than a party though.

A party without food is odd.

PS you could save a lot of money by hiring a hall instead, going potluck on the dishes and manning your own bar.

Would people really expect the equivalent of a meal? Why couldn't those with children eat at the same time as them, or have a big lunch and a sandwich?

Everyone who eats at 8, when do you have lunch? Surely there must be a lot of snacking going on if you eat lunch at 1? I don't eat anything after 6 pm, so all these different lifestyles are really interesting.

I'm not sure folks are saying she should provide a "meal" but they are saying food as in a buffet.

It is normal to have one at a party. It's unusual to have a party and provide none.

I'm not sure if the op is providing a free bar or what this is. If not it's a party on the cheap. No food, no drink provided for guests.

I think if that's what she is intending, she needs to explain to folks it's a paid bar and no food will be provided other than minor nibbles.