To be upset husband has booked a ‘novelty’ restaurant?

[trapperjohna]

It’s my 50th next Saturday. DH told me he’d book a nice restaurant and I was really looking forward to it as we rarely ever eat out. I was expecting to go somewhere nice in central Liverpool, he knows I love the waterfront so I was thinking he’d book somewhere around there.

Today he’s revealed he’s booked a place in Sheffield (which is annoying enough in itself, 90 minute drive for a meal and it won’t be relaxing at all) which is a novelty restaurant where the staff are intentionally rude to you and it’s all part of it. He’s booked it for the teens as well. I asked why on Earth he’d booked that and he said because he was curious about it and thought it’d be fun.

But it’s not me at all. I’m very self-conscious and even though it’ll all be a joke the thought of the staff verbally abusing me makes me anxious. I’ll end up taking something to heart and getting upset.

DH is annoyed I’ve asked him to cancel it and says I’m a spoil sport, but it’s my birthday dinner.

You are definitely not being unreasonable, it’s your birthday and you should be able to enjoy an evening out with dinner in a manner you feel comfortable with.

In my humble opinion it’s a rather selfish choice by your DH, if he really wants to spend an evening being verbally abused I could pass on my phone number.

What a buttmunch.

You'll have to book the restaurant yourself. You can't let him choose, you'll just be disappointed. It's your 50th so treat yourself to somewhere nice.

You are in Liverpool , nobody will be able to identify you as ‘that Mumsnet birthday’ family if you book a much better venue for your birthday evening.
I’d be booking Lerpwl in the Albert Dock asap and paying in advance with idiot Husband’s’ credit card .
Look after you .

@Suja1

its not a race to the bottom

as Women we don’t have to be grateful

@LondonQueen

whats nice about it?

it sounds fucking dreadful

Yikes.

I just looked at the menu, and I’m pretty sure you can get the same food (and same service, I dare say) much cheaper and closer to home.

it’s my 50th on Sunday, so I’m worried now in case my husband has done something daft 😯

I think it’s selfish of your husband to do this for YOUR birthday.

you want to feel special and beautiful on such a big milestone birthday, and while it sounds like it could be a hoot if you like that sort of thing, it also sounds exhausting and very draining. I think it’s more for people who like being centre of attention, and can give and take so called banter.

Either way, happy birthday to you, I hope he sees sense, gets over himself and finds something much more suitable.

I’ll go and read the rest of the thread now (it wouldn’t load properly earlier)
💐

whats nice about it?

it sounds fucking dreadful

I'm firmly on OPs side and don't think I'd want to go even if I was being paid, but I understand that not everyone is the same as me and it is a certain sense of humour.

Oh god , I've seen that place on buzz feed. Seriously cancel it!!

Yes, @anon666 - there's a charming image of a waitress giving the middle finger..
Each to their own!

Have you told your husband that you are not going to stepsons meal yet OP? @trapperjohna

Seems a bit drastic, but I agree to a point.

It's bad enough that he booked it based on wanting to go there himself, but add in that he got annoyed when Op wanted to cancel & called her a spoilsport...

He booked this to accommodate his own tastes and interests…Daddy having a laugh and being cool with the kids. Let him get on with it, as it has nothing to do with a celebration of your birthday. Let him drive and pay for it, meanwhile book something that you want for YOUR birthday…and remind the kids that one day when they’re older they’ll feel just as you do. Your husband reminds me of friends who buy presents not on the basis of what the recipient would like, but on the basis of what present giver thinks they should like.

I think that your dh sounds immensely selfish in not booking a restaurant where you'd have a lovely meal and the service is good. For me that'd be a real treat. But, living in Cornwall I'd choose afternoon tea in the Fowey Hall Hotel, near my village and a short journey by bus, so you can have a drink, wander round the shops, great fish and chips or seafood at Haveners also

DH is hopeless at booking anything (ADHD related) so I always book anything we want to do - holidays, flights, hotels, retaurants.

@trapperjohna why don't you just tell your family that you are booking a restaurant of your choice instead.

I don't understand people who passively waitfor others to do something for them that they are perfectly capable of doing themselves.

I went to a castle museum for my 26th with my grandparents and I loved it!

At the end of the day he doesn't have to do anything for your birthday, I would let him take you to the place he thinks will be a good night out, it may be fun and you may have the best birthday ever! Worst case scenario is that you hate it, you tell husband that and you don't go there again.

@LondonQueen

But would you book it for your DP's 50th birthday? And also when they had explicitly told you that they would not enjoy the experience?

@jewishmum

I agree. Some people don’t want to try new things I don’t get it.

@jewishmum I agree with the sentiment of 'try it you might like it' but not for a milestone birthday. You don't get to do them again if it's horrendous.

I'm glad you don't have to go to this awful place.
I wouldn't go for SS birthday either.

His father isn't sending a good message.

It's the new restaurant in Sheffield called Karen's Diner - a franchise I think over from the States - Googling gets - promising 'rude staff, awful service and singing waiters' in Sheffield. Karen's Diner is described as an immersive, pop-up dining experience which is not to be missed, especially if you enjoy complaining. There was a clip on it done by a reporter that went to see what it is all about doing the rounds on FB last week. Not my cup of tea but am sure there will be those that will love it. Wouldn't have said it is really a place to take someone for their birthday.

I love trying new things at times and do so on occasion.

However there are some experiences I know I definitely won't enjoy, so would never book them. This restaurant would come under this category for me.

If it hadn’t already been mentioned this is in the press OP, sorry. Liverpool echo running the story

Karen’s Diner has entered the chat 🔥🔥🔥

We're sad you chose not to join us for your 50th but our Karen's respect (kind of) your decision.

That being said we'd love to offer you and your husband (who has incredible taste) a free meal on us valid for the next 12 months. You can find our email details on our website and we can get you sorted.

Have a great birthday,

Karen xoxo

Bugger off this isn't the place for free advertising!!