Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My friend said I'm "stingy" am I ? Aibu ?

248 replies

sarahlou55k · 27/08/2021 14:53

Me and my friend are going to Manchester tomorrow.
We are going for 2 nights for shopping /food and drinks.
We love a cocktail and said we will have to have a couple of cocktails.

She messages me a hour ago telling me she's booked some fancy place with a skyline view ??
And she's paid for a cocktail tree
It's 8 pornstar martinis and it's £120
So it's £60 each

I told her that was expensive and she really should have asked first
She said "oh stop being stingy it will be fab"

So I've paid £60 for 4 pornstar martinis
£15 each !!
Please someone tell me they agree that £60 for 4 drinks is ridiculous?
I was thinking revolution /slug and lettuce 2 for £10 or 2for £12
Not £60 for 4

I'm annoyed
Aibu ?

OP posts:
CanICelebrate · 27/08/2021 17:05

Good cocktails are £10-£12 where I live and in a great venue in Manchester that doesn’t sound bad to me.
The issue is that she should have asked you first.

rc22 · 27/08/2021 17:06

@Lweji

Wikipedia says pornstar martinis should be accompanied by a glass of prosecco. So, two drinks for the price of one. Make sure you get it.
They usually only come with a little shot of prosecco not a standard glass of it.
isitxmasalready · 27/08/2021 17:06

Cloud 23 has had its day really, its a bit shabby round the edges now. Also see on the menu that they add on a 10% service charge to your bill - so watch out for that. Maybe try going to 20 Stories for a view and one cocktail/drink instead? If you want good cocktails at a reasonable price then try Turtle Bay in the Northern Quarter they have happy hours on cocktails so £60 would go much further! There are loads of good bars and restaurants in Manchester - if it was me I wouldn't want to spend all night in the same place drinking the same drink. As PP have said, its pride weekend so will be rammed and would therefore recommend booking a table somewhere/several places even for drinks.
Hope you have a good time.

FangsForTheMemory · 27/08/2021 17:11

I've paid more than that for a cocktail but it was in the Savoy in London and we only had one each. They will be good (ie strong) but I wouldn't want four of the same cocktail anyway, and your friend should have talked to you before booking it.

thebeatingofthedrums · 27/08/2021 17:16

£15 for a cocktail is about par for the course in London. I think I'd expect it to be cheaper in Manchester!

Also, whilst I wouldn't say it's overly pricey per se, I wouldn't want four in a row... I don't like the idea of committing to so many drinks in advance, even if you're a big drinker, it depends on how you feel on the night...

moofolk · 27/08/2021 17:22

I think I know that bar you're going to.

It's pricey but great view of the city and beyond.

Drinks are pricey but excellent.

I'd have preferred to be able to choose my own drinks, it's a bit weird that she's ordered already, but it's a holiday thing and a special place to be.

Enjoy.

letsmakethishappen · 27/08/2021 17:27

It’s a trendy place I wouldn’t mind at all! But you could have discussed it first

Bythemillpond · 27/08/2021 17:28

You are comparing Slug and Lettuce with a fancy bar with a view.

It isn’t just about what is in the glass it is about your surroundings

It is like comparing the Savoy with a Premier Inn
Both offer you a bed for the night but you are paying for the experience.

Unfortunately my mother is like this and spends the evening comparing how much cheaper she could have done something.

Jamdown123 · 27/08/2021 17:30

If I wanted what I consider a great time with a friend I would consider that friend - do they often splurge like that? If not, I would just pay for the experience and 'surprise' my friend. If they do tend to spend a bit for a special experience, I'd ask first, thinking it's likely (bit not necessarily) they would say yes.

I have spent more on a cocktail, when flush, and just had tapwater at a noodle place when I'm not. You have to ask or just take on the bill yourself. IMO

ActonSquirrel · 27/08/2021 17:33

@Bythemillpond

You are comparing Slug and Lettuce with a fancy bar with a view.

It isn’t just about what is in the glass it is about your surroundings

It is like comparing the Savoy with a Premier Inn
Both offer you a bed for the night but you are paying for the experience.

Unfortunately my mother is like this and spends the evening comparing how much cheaper she could have done something.

I didn't

I compared it to the Sky Garden in London which has better views and is cheaper.

It's bloody expensive and not worth it. Not to mention I wouldn't want 4 cocktails. I'd be paralytic drunk.

Balldog · 27/08/2021 17:35

You need different friends!

3Br1tnee · 27/08/2021 17:39

That's ridiculous. I wouldn't have sent the money.

Bythemillpond · 27/08/2021 17:43

ActonSquirrel

I was referring to sarah the op who was inferring that you could get more for your money in a Slug and Lettuce

00100001 · 27/08/2021 17:43

I'd want as menu if cocktails to choose from for that price

ExtraOnions · 27/08/2021 17:44

It’s Pride weekend … so Manchester will be buzzing (and busy)

Doesn’t suprise me for Cloud 23 … it’s nice enough, I’ve been once …it was fine

Various area of Manchester I think you need tickets for, I’m going in Sunday (but on a VIP thing… as a friend is appearing / playing)

Eurghhhhhhh · 27/08/2021 17:48

You're definitely not being stingy!
Cloud 23 is amazing so if you've already paid and it can't be cancelled, then try and enjoy it 😊 and convince friend to go somewhere more cheap and cheerful the second night to stay in budget?

ZarkingBell · 27/08/2021 17:51

Cloud 23 is a great bar. you will love it.
I'm jealous Envy.
Sorry it costs so much though. I've only been for a work conference and my bosses bought most of the drinks, and we only had one cocktail each!

AppaTheSixLeggedFlyingBison · 27/08/2021 17:55

Are you sure she's sent you the right price? Was just on the Cloud 23 website and whilst I couldn't find the price for a pornstar tree, a single pornstar martini there was £13. I'd expect a tree of 8 would work out at a cost of pay for 6, get 2 free. Not more money than 8 individual ones

Wroxie · 27/08/2021 17:56

£120 for eight drinks that will all come out at one time and will therefore be room temperature by the time you finish. MMMmmm lovely.

The kind of place that rips you off for "cocktail trees" isn't going to have any nicer atmosphere than Slug and Lettuce and will probably be considerably worse because of the shame of knowing you've been taken for a mug - at least after you've suffered through a couple of hours at S+L you can afford some chicken mcnuggets on the way home.

Honestly with the kind of places you're setting yourself up for you'll have a nicer time if you get a carrier bag of store brand canned cocktails from Morrison's and drink them on a bench at the bus station.

user1471428785 · 27/08/2021 17:58

You're not stingy at all. It sounds like she's booked Cloud 21 at the Hilton in Manchester which is great but those cocktail prices are a rip off!

ItsNotMeAnymore · 27/08/2021 18:06

Of course you are not stingy. She was rude and so considerate. I'd have a word with her about it. I wouldn't be arsey but I'd tell her that you didn't want to spend that much and that you think it was thoughtless and rude to book it without asking. Tell her you are going to go along with it as what's done is done but clearly tell her it to do anything similar again.

Iwab82 · 27/08/2021 18:08

So it looks like she is paying for the experience rather than the drink iyswim. She should have consulted you first as even if you can afford this you may have preferred to have a lovely meal for that amount of money. Not sure, I am a mug so probably would have gone along with it. Can you tell why I am in overdraft and CC debt!? On another note Porn Star Martinis are my favourite.

momtoboys · 27/08/2021 18:10

I agree that YANBU she should have checked first but I don't think $15 is outrageous for a cocktail. Its commonplace in the US.

StripeyDeckchair · 27/08/2021 18:10

I wouldn't be happy as I hate porn star martinis

user1471538283 · 27/08/2021 18:11

That is expensive. It's ok her saying you are being stingy, she should have checked.

I'm sure you will enjoy it. I would tell her that you cannot do another night like it.