Christmas lunch costs crazy!!

[Selok]

I know the businesses are trying to get back on their feet and hospitality had been hit the hardest but..I have been looking at Christmas lunch/dinner menus around where we live- prices are crazy like £150 per head is the cheapest I found so far. I was also looking for a two night stay somewhere close by including Xmas lunch - cost about £2,500 for two people - cheaper to go to Iceland, including flights, room only accommodation for 4 nights for 3 people is like £1,100 cheapest. How is this possible

Food and drink in Iceland is extremely expensive- you’d probably end up paying more!!

I don't think those inflated costs are being passed on to the people working their feet off to make these lunches happen.

Food and drink in Iceland is extremely expensive- you’d probably end up paying more!!

Depends which Iceland

The cost of food, supplies, energy has increased. For example where I work, the cost of butter has increased 75%, the cost of electric currently 33%. Staff also want to be paid more so they have had to increase payroll. These costs to an extent have to be passed onto the customer.

Well, the market will decide. If they find themselves low on bookings then maybe they should have charged a bit less.

Yes, exactly. And it's not like any of us are going to know whether that's the case now or not, nearly three months away and without any knowledge of the places OP is talking about. It's a product that may or may not have been appropriately priced.

Just don't go out for Xmas lunch

Exactly. Sometimes they have those packs of frozen spring rolls and bhajis on a three for £5 deal 😁

Yes, exactly. And it's not like any of us are going to know whether that's the case now or not, nearly three months away and without any knowledge of the places OP is talking about. It's a product that may or may not have been appropriately priced.

I suppose there's nothing to stop them from reducing the price later, if they have vacancies later than they'd expected - maybe hand out 'exclusive' vouchers to everybody!

Depending on the establishment, there may be comfortably-off people who will happily pay a premium to secure their place for a Christmas Day meal there, well in advance, before the price comes down to a point at which the plebs can afford it?!

We’ve been out once (pre-COVID) for Christmas Lunch. Paid over £100 per head, but also took gifts for the waiting staff and paid a huge tip, too. That was our choice, but wouldn’t be an annual trip (was due to circumstances and there being a half-finished kitchen at our house).
I would expect it to cost more now, because we were asking the staff to give up their own family time, and with the price increases being as they are, 5 years on, I think that £150 per head is reasonable… YABU

I'm also unconvinced that employers are passing on the extra to staff.

Market forces rule. Demand is high and people will pay. Long live the market.

I have been so busy at work, but I have now read all responses which are very insightful and really helpful. This is the first time we considered to dine out: in 2020 Christmas my husband and I had covid the Kent variant, we had it very bad and our then 15yo daughter had to be locked in her room so we ordered dominos pizza- the only place we could order something to eat! Last year l we thought we do the same and ordered pizza again😊 and had our Christmas lunch on boxing day. So this year I thought we treat ourselves once and eat out! I guess maybe I was so out of place that thinking £150 per head was too much but in fact, now it doesn't sound too bad I do hope the hardworking staff also get paid fairly that day my heart goes out to them and also my husband is now out of retail so first time he will have a proper Christmas time- hoping this for everyone especially in the hospitality and retail sectors! I might order M&S if I can still have a slot or I will look into other suggestions here