To take an iPad to a Nice Meal on Sunday?

[EngSun]

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?

It is the absolute height of rudeness to take a tablet (or phone, unless you are critical govt. or medical personnel) to the dinner table, where your host/hostess expects there to be conversation. You are telling them that the football game is more important to you than their meal, or the company.

The fact that others may be that rude is not an excuse for you to be. But...if you don't want to be invited back, by all means, do so.

If the other couple are happy with it, go for it! It's your treat and you can all spend it how you choose. Sound off is perfect
Assuming it's even possible to watch. Even connected to the train wifi, it will likely lose signal for large portions of the game (I've tried and failed to watch games on the train before).

Love your optimism 'when England score'!

I thought I might get slaughtered if I said "if"

Rude. Choose one or the other.

Yes other couple happy with the screen.

The plan is to check the vibe of the day.

If others on the carriage appear to be watching it, then we will get our iPad out.

If no one is watching it, we'll be able to watch it on catch up without knowing the result. This is my preferred option.

I'll take iPad because there's no way I'm listening to others on the carriage happily enjoying it while we 4 don't have access to a screen.

It’s your party. Make the footy part of the party. There’s nothing rude in that as long as the other couple are also interested/ on board with the plan, and you don’t in any way disturb other diners at other tables then there is no question of rudeness.

You probably already know whether the other couple are quietly wishing you’ll bring the iPad.

If I paid a lot of money for a meal that had been booked nearly a year and the adults at the table next to me were glued to their iPad like a 5 year old in Pizza Express, I’d be pretty pissed off. Just check the score on your phone or re-schedule.

Though for what it’s worth, unless you’re going through your mobile hot spot, many train WiFis block all streaming because it drags down the internet speed.

I originally thought YABU but if all 4 of you want to watch it I think that’s fine. It’s up to you what you do at your table surely? Just be discreet. I bet you won’t be the only ones watching.

@EngSun

Yes other couple happy with the screen.

The plan is to check the vibe of the day.

If others on the carriage appear to be watching it, then we will get our iPad out.

If no one is watching it, we'll be able to watch it on catch up without knowing the result. This is my preferred option.

I'll take iPad because there's no way I'm listening to others on the carriage happily enjoying it while we 4 don't have access to a screen.

Perfectly reasonable

@mindutopia

If I paid a lot of money for a meal that had been booked nearly a year and the adults at the table next to me were glued to their iPad like a 5 year old in Pizza Express, I’d be pretty pissed off. Just check the score on your phone or re-schedule.

If the sound is down why would you care what other tables are doing?

@EngSun

Yes other couple happy with the screen.

The plan is to check the vibe of the day.

If others on the carriage appear to be watching it, then we will get our iPad out.

If no one is watching it, we'll be able to watch it on catch up without knowing the result. This is my preferred option.

I'll take iPad because there's no way I'm listening to others on the carriage happily enjoying it while we 4 don't have access to a screen.

This doesn’t sound unreasonable to be fair. The main thing would be that you wouldn’t be able to cheer if others aren’t watching the game if they score. If other people are watching it, it might be a lovely way of experiencing it.

I doubt a man would ask this OP, they would just watch, enjoy your meal and watch it, obviously with headphones or sound off.

I’m not into football but think you should take it. Sounds like all of you would be interested in watching it. Hope you have a lovely meal out and get to sneak a bit of football in too. I’m sure most people will be doing the same. Enjoy!

If no one is watching it, we'll be able to watch it on catch up without knowing the result. This is my preferred option.
If you live in the UK, you will not be able to avoid knowing the result.

And, again, there's a very real chance you won't be able to watch on the train.

Just cancel - you won’t enjoy it anyway so cancel and invite your friends to watch at yours instead. Yes you’ll lose the money but you’re wasting anyway if you don’t want to be there

A radio with an earpiece maybe, but not an iPad. I appreciate it is 12 years since an England senior football team were in a final of anything, but not at a table. Try to see if your meal can finish a bit earlier, or skip the last course.

I was expecting to say YABU but now I am not so sure. And I say this being not particularly a football fan.

I have been on a very similar sounding trip. If the people at a nearby table to us had Loudly listened to a match then yes I would have been annoyed that the £100s we had spent to treat ourselves was being spoilt.

However,if you can genuinely do this discreetly do the other people on the train aren't disturbed and if all four of you are in agreement then I can't see it is so bad.

After all this isn't just any old match, even I can see that. And as for the poster who said why book a trip when a big match is on. We'll, really who would have thought this was going to happen?

Enjoy your trip and just be considerate of thd other diners.

I bet it's a steam train isn't it?

I think having the option and deciding based on the context on the day is fine. I’d be surprised if it worked well though. Wifi on trains is rarely good enough for streaming a match and the wifi service may not allow streaming anyway. If you’re relying on a phone signal, it’s likely to be very patchy if the train is moving.

@Ratalie

If no one is watching it, we'll be able to watch it on catch up without knowing the result. This is my preferred option. If you live in the UK, you will not be able to avoid knowing the result.

And, again, there's a very real chance you won't be able to watch on the train.

Yes, exactly.

What kind of train has flawless wi-fi signal that will mean you can watch the match with zero interruptions? I can't even load Facebook on the train most of the time!

How could you do this discreetly? I assume you'd be jumping about and getting excited.

I'd be mega pissed of if someone at another table was doing this. So entitled. So bloody rude!

Well it seems totally pointless to me. What’s the point of arranging to meet other people and go for a lovely dinner to sit on an iPad? You might as well stay home and rearrange for a time when you can socialise properly, giving your full attention to the people you are with.

I will say though that I get quite annoyed if I arrange something with people and they spend a lot of time texting/on social media. It feels a bit rude as when I go out I have arranged babysitting, and usually have organised financially to be able to go, so when they sit glued to their phone I think what’s the point of this.

Take a portable projector. Full kit, plus shin pads. If you can get your hands on some air horns? Maybe fireworks for the final whistle?

We went out for my birthday during the knockout stages and had it on a phone in a very crowded restaurant/cocktail bar on a Friday night. The waiter seemed to think we were a bit odd but noone batted an eyelid otherwise.

If you are at a table for 4, with the sound of the train rumbling along and the ambient noise of everyone else, you'll be fine!