What is it about British holiday makers and full breakfast?

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

The other day I was wathing randomly Four in a Bed. The hosting B&B had an amazing (for me) choice of breakfast foods- loads of nice cereal, yoghurts, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses, freshly baked bread, most locally picked/made, seasonal whenever possible. Every couple on the show complained that there was no cooked breakfast option and rated the B&B really low on the breakfast front because they didn't get to have their fry-up.
Another time I watched snippets of a programme showing people to travelling around France, again all complaining that they don't get to have their bacon and beans, but were offered French breakfast instead. There was a time when I worked in a hotel abroad over the summer and likewise saw plenty of British tourists who would refuse to have breakfast if they didnt get their fried eggs and would moan there was no bacon or fried beans. Now mind you, I love eggs for breakfast, but I also ate plenty of other stuff that are available.

Asking here as I am a foreigner and back home we are not really religious about our breakfasts- sometimes we have cooked breakfast, sometimes a sandwich, sometimes cereal, and I have never in my life met a fellow countryman who would complain as much about not having specific foods on offer, especially when abroad. And out of all the British people I know, very, very few actually have a fry up for breakfast, not mentoning having it every day. I didn't get that vibe to from tourists from other countries, not the same extent at least.

I know that while abroad or generally on holiday you sometimes want to eat something familiar, but don't really understand why people are so upset to not have the food they don't even eat at home every day offered while away every day?

YABU. When I've endured a clunky bed that's not my own I WANT THE BREAKFAST.

@DowntownAbby I recommend doing acourse on reading comprehension with understanding, please don't put words in my mouth which were not said. There was no ridicule in my post.
I never mentioned that other types of breakfast are superior, or that other nations are, just never observed the same attachment to breakfast items as I did with people from the UK.

I love a cooked full English but eat it rarely. Therefore if I stay in an English B & B I want my full English breakfast.

When cooked well, it’s delicious and not especially unhealthy.

I think YABU. Lots of people look forward to the cooked breakfast at a B&B more than anything else, as they don’t have it at home. It can be a bit greasy, but it’s the traditional breakfast here, and a bit of self-indulgence once in a while. Yum!

I watch that programme too (binge watch at weekend whilst snoozing in front of fire ) and I’m always amazed when hosts who don’t provide it are surprised by the response.

What I do think bizarre about 4IAB is all that nutty scouring around in every remote corner for the tiniest speck of dust, and, having found it, knocking 6 marks off for cleanliness in an otherwise perfect room Oh, and the hosts who suggest people who found a dirty plaster/whatever on the bedside table were making it up, despite knowing that the finding was recorded on camera.

It’s nuts but I do enjoy watching it, just as I enjoy the naughty full English breakfast treat (but no beans for me, thanks )

Butterisbest

I don’t like meat and don’t really eat eggs and beans bloat me up so the only things I can eat are the tomatoes and mushrooms.

When I was younger before I turned veggie we would stay in B&bs and be served up the breakfast minus the bacon and I always remember it made me feel so uncomfortable for the rest of the day.

Holiday to Egypt years later introduced me to hummus and olives

The other thing about a full English being on offer is that because there’s quite a lot to it (bacon, various kinds of egg, sausage, mushrooms, tomato, black pudding, toast etc) those who don’t want the whole thing can choose exactly what they want. On the rare occasion that I stay for more than a night in a B&B I’ll prolly have the full monty in the first morning and then maybe poached egg and mushrooms on toast for the other(s).

Love breakfast, which I never eat at home. Can’t stop thinking about it now

I hate big cooked fried breakfasts. They make me feel so full and sluggish. Just got back from a trip to Scotland and every bnb I stayed in they kept trying to force greasy breakfasts on me when I just wanted some porridge or toast.

I agree @WeePinklet - the final episode should have screens in the room so when they say “I found hair in the bed” (FIAB classic!), which is met with outrage and denial, the hosts could watch the footage. After all, the show is not about B&B’s, it’s a study into human nature (and it’s entertaining!)

I like beans, but it’s not an deal beaker for me - I think served on the side in a ramekin is the answer. I’m too invested in FIAB, sorry to derail 😂

Also, why do they go nuts over those little square of butter? I use one for two slices of toast but I noticed that many British people take at least 4 for the same when we’re on holiday. What gives??

Because one square of butter is no where near enough for two slices of toast

@WeePinklet I suppose when you book your b&b you know in advance what you get, so their usual customers may not be shocked by lack of cooked breakfast and choose it for different reasons (location, decor etc), so they must think that outweighs the lack of fry up for most people. It would not for random other b&b owners who funny have a choice in the programme.
I dint watch the show not that often, but love how triumphant people get when they finally find something to complain about, like a bin that does not suit the bathroom's decor or a kettle that fits not boil water quickly we enough, a speck of dust behind the curtain is a classic.

YANBU
kind of reminds me of some of the holidays resorts abroad that advertise that they have ‘HP sauce’ and ‘PG tips’ and are showing that nights X-Factor later. Why bother going on holiday?

"It would not for random other b&b owners who funny have a choice in the programme."

That, but also (I didn't watch it yesterday) anytime there's someone on it who doesn't offer a cooked breakfast, they always order one at the other contestants b&bs...

Could be that for them part of going away is their chance to have a big full breakfast. Part of their going away treat perhaps, as they probably don't have one at home the rest of the time. It would be fairly unusual in a UK hotel to not have a cooked breakfast as an option in my experience and I can see why some people might be disappointed if they don't know in advance.

On holiday I do like the option of eggs and 'normal' bread I have to say. Though a selection of fresh fruit is good so long as it's been covered up to avoid flies etc. I don't eat meat so that aspect is never a draw for me.

YABU its just part of tradition and culture. British people like a cooked breakfast when staying in hotels/B&Bs. My kids ask for one every weekend, its just something enjoyable and easy to cook.

Because full English tastes great, but is a pain in the arse to cook at home (plus I'd never eat it when going to work etc) so it's a treat on holiday....?

Other nationalities also insist on their preferred breakfast and I do think that many establishments are not as accommodating as they could be.

I witnessed what was likely to be a group of Indian scientists arguing about the provision of omelettes at a chain hotel (there was a large science park nearby that I was visiting myself so while they could have been British Indians and nothing to do with the science Park, it is also probable that they were visiting from India).

They wanted omelettes for breakfast and while the menu said they did a variety of freshly cooked egg options this apparently did not include omelettes. It got quite heated.

Not many people will bother cooking a full breakfast at home other than at weekend so maybe that's why they're demanding as part of a holiday. What amazes me on 4 in a Bed is how many people will nosh their way through fruit, yoghurt, cereal and toast/pastries whilst waiting for their fried breakfast. Do lots of people do that? I've even seen a competing couple complain about too much food being offered. Nowt so strange as folk.

If you were to rank countries on breakfasts, England would come top globally - I would put my house on it.
I can’t really think of another country that has any clear identity in this area. It’s all a bit of a fudge. Take France. A yoghourt, a pastry perhaps, a bit of fruit. That’s just some random items. Ditto most other European countries.
England is the benchmark in this area, without doubt.

Because when many of us rarely get to have them for breakfast unless we are on holiday as we don’t have time otherwise .
Yabu, to question it.
I don’t like cereal or pastries and I don’t class cold meats as a breakfast

It’s called bed and breakfast for a reason!

The best part of a weekend away for my dd is the buffet breakfast!

There are some horrible attitudes to you on here OP, I think you've committed the offence of being a 'foreigner'. Sigh.

A yoghourt, a pastry perhaps, a bit of fruit. That’s just some random items

Haricot beans in a tomato sauce, an egg, a sausage. Also random items.

But busybarbara, they go together perfectly, all on one plate. Rounds of toast in those metal rack things optional. A yoghourt and a pastry? Wtf is that all about, seriously? I actually find it offensive