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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How far in advance would you book a special birthday meal? AIBU?

40 replies

notanotherguitar · 02/07/2021 11:02

Just to see if IABU. Sister offered to be the one to book mum’s birthday meal as she works near mum’s favourite restaurant and will just pop in after work, I said that’d be really great if she didn’t mind doing it.

She has just phoned to say they’re fully booked and I said did you not book it a while back? And she said she didn’t expect it to be booked up this far in advance … it’s next Saturday!

OP posts:
MissMissTorrance · 02/07/2021 11:03

2/3 weeks in advance

Ninkanink · 02/07/2021 11:04

I’d’ve done it about three weeks before.

justwingin2021 · 02/07/2021 11:05

With how things are atm with Covid restrictions (numbers allowed inside etc) I would of booked weeks in advance.. even before Covid times at least a month (but I'm a planner)

Cocomelons · 02/07/2021 11:06

1/2 weeks in advance unless I know the restaurant is often booked or it's for a really big table then maybe a month

daisypond · 02/07/2021 11:06

It depends on the restaurant, though. A big-name Michelin starred one might be booked up for many weeks, if not months, ahead, especially for a Saturday night.

Aposterhasnoname · 02/07/2021 11:07

As soon as I decided to go. I have restaurant bookings for September.

ColettesEarrings · 02/07/2021 11:07

About 4 weeks for a special meal, 6-8 weeks if I know the place is popular and if it had to be a certain day/date.

BanningTheWordNaice · 02/07/2021 11:07

When we agree the time/date of the meal.

newnortherner111 · 02/07/2021 11:08

If it was in the week about a week in advance, probably longer if it was a weekend.

Just hope for the sake of the restaurant everyone who has booked turns up. No-shows at any time are bad enough, but after all that pubs and restaurants have gone through, even worse now.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/07/2021 11:12

I've got my birthday dinner booked for the end of August. I would never assume a week would be sufficient booking time for a popular restaurant.

NoSquirrels · 02/07/2021 11:14

YANBU but in all honesty I might be your sister in this scenario - best intentions, a desire to be helpful, procrastinate and fuck it up.

Does your mum already know about the restaurant plan?

Neondisco · 02/07/2021 11:16

Oh no! Yep that's just daft. Especially now they are fitting in less covers due to distancing.

I've been ill and it's my birthday next weekend. So haven't booked anywhere. I was pretty happy to get booked onto a good restaurant at 6.45 on a Friday. Loads of places were booked up though.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/07/2021 11:16

I’d have done it as soon as I knew I was organising. Maybe 6 weeks if I had to choose.

Mammymar · 02/07/2021 11:17

At least 4 weeks in advance if its a special birthday meal.

PattyPan · 02/07/2021 11:22

Depends on the size of the group and popularity of the restaurant. Since restaurants are running at limited capacity at the moment I would have booked earlier than normal because of that as well. So probably 3 weeks in advance for a group of 4 in an average restaurant or 4+ weeks in advance for a group of 6 in a popular restaurant.

idontlikealdi · 02/07/2021 12:06

At the moment you need to book weeks in advance for bloody Zizzi around here.

I've book the restaurants for our holiday in Dorset in august already.

MadeOfStarStuff · 02/07/2021 12:24

At the moment with covid restrictions, I’d book as soon as I made the plans. Restaurants can fit less people in and I think there’s still a big demand from finally being able to go out to eat and because people are more likely to be staying in the UK rather than going abroad so treating themselves to meals out

Dishwashersaurous · 02/07/2021 12:33

Given consideration to covid, as soon as indoor dining was permitted because restaurant booking up weeks in advance.

So for early July, end of April

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 02/07/2021 12:37

Why wouldn't you just book online?? Why need for someone to pop in at all?
YANBU though she dropped the ball.

Womencanlift · 02/07/2021 12:38

When did you have the original conversation with your sister where she said she will go after work? If it was weeks ago and she never got round to do it until now then YANBU

If you both have just had the conversation today then you are both being unreasonable as I would have done it weeks ago, especially for a special event like a birthday

20viona · 02/07/2021 12:41

6 weeks

kindaclassy · 02/07/2021 12:48

As soon as it's decided, what's the point of waiting?

kindaclassy · 02/07/2021 12:49

That's probably why so many people complain about "mental load" because they cant' be bothered to tick things off as they go.

Agree to go out, book it, done. No need to think about it, plan reminder and ridiculous faff.

snoopy2016 · 02/07/2021 12:51

I booked my daughters 18th 6 months in advance as it is her favourite place to eat and it’s usually booked up about a month in advance. Usually though 2/3 weeks before

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 02/07/2021 12:52

Friday/Sat evenings and Sunday lunch for a party of more than four I would expect to book a couple of months ahead.

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