To go out for Christmas lunch?

[smartcarnotsosmartdriver]

Soooo, long story short my DH's family have been in my opinion very unkind. Planned a family trip away over Christmas and not invited him at all. It's a big birthday for his mum on Boxing Day and he's feeling quite put out.

As a treat and to make him feel better we promptly booked to go out for Christmas lunch, something we've never done before. However I feel quite guilty, people have to work on Christmas Day to serve us lunch because we can't be bothered cooking. DH is a chef which I think is part of why I feel guilty.

Is it really horrible of us to make someone else cook Christmas lunch so we don't have to? If you work in hospitality do you hate the people that eat where you work on Christmas Day?

You're paying for it so no, you're not being horrible to go out for Christmas lunch. Enjoy it

I LOVED working on Christmas Day when I was younger, the money was really great! I got double pay and loads of tips and Christmas dinner at home in the evening. Don’t worry about it, have a great day!

You are overthinking it. I hope you and your dh have a lovely day.

Who else has been invited to PILs trip?

I wouldn't think twice about eating out on Christmas Day.

We eat out every christmas and have done for quite some years now - The people working get compensated for their time (usually really good pay and lots of merry people giving tips) and often choose to do it

Nothing to feel guilty for - if you want to do a bit of something to make yourself feel better, rock up with a tub of sweets or chocolates for the staff, smile and be polite... the last two will probably be most appreciated!

The trip is for PIL and SIL who is a similar age to DH. They told him yesterday and said he could come if he liked but that they'd checked and the hotel was now full. It's a rural hotel with no others nearby. They must have planned this months ago and they do have form for favouring SIL.

Wow that is hurtful. Hope you both have a nice day together.

We are out for Christmas Lunch with my DD and DGCs so there will be 8 of us its our Xmas treat for them.
Apart from the extra trimmings for the meal there is not a lot extra for the chefs/cooks to do and the staff are mostly glad of the double/triple pay and tips so dont worry about it.
Enjoy your day with your OH and tell his family to shove it where the sun don't shine.

I live in Ireland and all our pubs and restaurants close Christmas day. I would absolutely love to be able to have Christmas lunch out. No pressure, no prep, no clean up......sounds like bliss to me. I assume all staff would be well rewarded for working that day also. Go and enjoy.

Thanks everyone, I just wanted to do something nice so we had it to look forward to. It's their loss, he's absolutely fab, we'll probably see my family on Christmas Eve and then have the day just the two of us.

When I did waitressing years ago the single staff tended to work Christmas, freeing those with young families to be at home and at New Year it was reversed.
Please, no-one get on their MN high horse about the use of 'single', I think it's pretty clear what I mean, staff with children had Christmas Day with them.
Either way it was a bumper time for tips and people seemed far nicer and relaxed in general.

Also, it was actually a really nice atmosphere at work on Christmas Day too so I never minded at all.

OK, I'm being a pedant, but it's Christmas dinner, not Christmas lunch. Dinner simply means the main meal of the day, not the time you have it, so unless you are planning on having an even bigger meal later, it's Christmas dinner.

And why not go out? You don't have to do the work, you get to relax, the people who are working get paid. I've worked on Christmas Day and it has never bothered me. It's a win-win. Enjoy!