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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take an iPad to a Nice Meal on Sunday?

335 replies

EngSun · 09/07/2021 19:01

Football related, obviously.

We've got a very fancy day planned on sunday.

It's not changeable.

We will most likely be eating at kick off time, not quite sure of timings.

Even it we're not eating at that time, we're at the table till 9.30.

Wibu to take some means of watching the game?

I'm sure many of the other people in the room will have some means of following the game, so it would be impossible to hide from any scoring. I think it'd be impossible to just record it and watch it at home at 10.30ish.

We'll be discreet as possible, and obviously not the only people at the meal interested.

Wibu?

OP posts:
joystir59 · 11/07/2021 04:55

Anyone who is miserable enough to not want to watch England play in the Euro finals, making history, can go hang.

Oblomov21 · 11/07/2021 05:14

Now that you've shown the picture, this is far too posh for watching the football. And we are huge football fans here. I Appreciate that you didn't know we'd be in the final when you booked this, however the fact is it is not a low key place, it's very posh and it would be just totally totally inappropriate to watch it. Unless literally everyone else is. But if only 1 person isn't, or objects, then it's just not the done thing.

SupermanInk · 11/07/2021 05:21

Could you watch it on your phone as it’ll be more discreet? No screaming, obviously. I couldn’t care less what someone on the next table is doing as long as they’re not making excessive noise. I bet you won’t be the only ones. I knew this thread would bring out all sorts of crazy.

BastardMonkfish · 11/07/2021 05:25

Can't you discreetly check a live stream on your phone? Whipping out an iPad and all 4 of you watching it seems a bit much Confused

MichelleLdn85 · 11/07/2021 05:34

In general I think it's totally unacceptable to have an ipad / radio / phone out at a meal like that, however as this is a bit of an exceptional circumstance, why don't you take the ipad and play it by ear? If most other diners are clearly watching it somehow, bring out your ipad, discretely, on mute (it has to be mute). If they're not then you'll have to miss it. If missing the football is totally unpalatable for you, then you should cancel, but give the other couple the option to go without you. Also bear in mind that you might get asked to put it away if you do get it out.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 11/07/2021 08:46

Anyone who is miserable enough to not want to watch England play in the Euro finals, making history, can go hang

And there we have too many football fans' attitude in one sentence
Never mind discretion - which usually goes out the window at the first exciting moment - and never mind anyone else; they can "go hang" and that's it

How sad Sad

Pottedpalm · 11/07/2021 08:48

@ShitPoetryClub

My God, its a complete one off. We also have a no phones at the table rule but not when England are in the finals. How can people be so prissy about it. Just wear your headphones and be discreet. You are good to even consider going. I would have cancelled. The only thing that I would consider more important is a medical emergency or possibly a crime in progress (but it would have to be a really serious one).
It’s the OP’s own trip, and you pay ( a lot) upfront.
jasjas1973 · 11/07/2021 08:49

@EngSun

Have you thought of asking the train operator to provide a 60inch TV in the corner of the carriage that you can all gather around?

Pottedpalm · 11/07/2021 08:52

@joystir59

This is a once in a life time match. I would find a way of watching it if at all possible and all the staff serving your meal will be watching it when they aren't serving you.
The staff don’t have a minute when they are not working, the meals are epic and staff are up and down the aisles with drinks or preparing for the next course in their very small areas. Standards are high and I doubt they would be allowed to neglect their passengers to watch the football.
Pottedpalm · 11/07/2021 08:54

I hope OP comes back afterwards to update on what happened and how the operator managed this event.

trollopolis · 11/07/2021 08:57

If you want to watch the match, cancel the meal or leave the restaurant

Do not inflict on other diners who may be there to escape the footie.

We were having a night out during a previous tournament and carefully rang round a number of places to find one that wasn't showing it.

I'd have been deeply pissed off with a screen as big as an iPad being shown around at the next table.

Next to nowhere will be footie free today - and those that are have done so deliberately. Don't scribble on them - almost the whole of the rest of England watching. Leave the pockets where it's no on alone

TangledTrees · 11/07/2021 08:59

Rude and inappropriate. The only acceptable compromise I can see is for you to occasionally glance at a news app to see the up to date score. Anything involving actually watching the match in that environment is unreasonable.

Kalvinette · 11/07/2021 09:02

Feel sorry for the staff who were allocated to this shift and thought "oh well, at least I'm not working in a pub, I'll just avoid my phone and catch it on replay".

Pottedpalm · 11/07/2021 09:06

@trollopolis

If you want to watch the match, cancel the meal or leave the restaurant

Do not inflict on other diners who may be there to escape the footie.

We were having a night out during a previous tournament and carefully rang round a number of places to find one that wasn't showing it.

I'd have been deeply pissed off with a screen as big as an iPad being shown around at the next table.

Next to nowhere will be footie free today - and those that are have done so deliberately. Don't scribble on them - almost the whole of the rest of England watching. Leave the pockets where it's no on alone

It’s not a restaurant, it’s a very expensive train, serving a very long winded meal. There are no refunds if you cancel for the footie; it will have been booked and paid for weeks, if not months, ago.
Pottedpalm · 11/07/2021 09:09

I don’t think recording it and watching later will work, as the result will be apparent when you disembark.

MarvellousMonsters · 11/07/2021 09:24

No. It's just a football match. You can watch it later. Get a grip

NeedNewKnees · 11/07/2021 09:26

Very rude and inappropriate. I understand the timing is frustrating but you either commit to your trip or you don’t go.

Text alerts to your phone about goals/penalties/red cards etc would keep you up to date and still able to focus on your evening without disturbing the other passengers.

LightAsTheBreeze · 11/07/2021 09:29

One thing that this thread has shown me is to never book one of these things as it may be full of judgy mumsnetters

Namechangerextraordinaire1 · 11/07/2021 09:41

Depends on the context for me but realistically I'd presume most people would wanna have a look

Puzzledandpissedoff · 11/07/2021 09:56

We were having a night out during a previous tournament and carefully rang round a number of places to find one that wasn't showing it

I did the same; in fact the day out was actually advertised as a football free zone

Until the knuckle dragger guide (who'd been twitching all day) shouted out "Who wants to see the match then?". A chorus of "No!!!!!" followed, except for just one guy who risked a "Yes"

"Ah, I knew you'd all secretly want to" insisted the guide, and on it went

SkiingIsHeaven · 11/07/2021 10:00

My BIL did this during a meal that I organised.

I was livid. So rude.

He could have gone to the loo to check the score from time to time. That wouldn't have been so bad.

I couldn't speak to him for fear I would say something we wouldn't come back from.

Totally ruined the evening.

SkiingIsHeaven · 11/07/2021 10:01

Also not fair to the restaurant to cancel at this late date.

Hathertonhariden · 11/07/2021 10:09

Stay at home/go to a bar with your friends and give the tickets away. No point going if you're not going to appreciate the experience you booked and are going to ruin it for other people.

Marriedatfirstyear · 11/07/2021 10:54

Rude and entitled imo. Enjoy the experience and watch later.

mafted · 11/07/2021 11:48

Is anyone else kind of hoping for an "AIBU my fancy train experience is being ruined by people watching football on an iPad"
Grin