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AIBU?

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Original poster

Eating out on Christmas Day. Do we expect too much?

213 replies

Nonimai · 26/12/2023 07:46

We spent £100 a head yesterday on a meal that wasn’t horrible , it was just meh. Expectations are high. People were complaining. Did you have your meal out yesterday? Was it worth the money?
we went to a local gastro pub/restaurant in North England. Usually excellent roasts. Tbh they tried too hard to make it special - chefs only make this once a year - and it didn’t work.

OP posts:
TrashedSofa · 28/12/2023 15:01

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 28/12/2023 14:48

Ok,whatever.

Show quote history

Mmmmkay.

fetchacloth · 28/12/2023 16:53

girlfriend44 · 26/12/2023 16:50

Laziness costs money and at Christmas you'll get stung.

Make your own food next year and eat out when it's cheaper.

The roasts you buy out will never be as good as you can make yourself.

The reason for going out on Christmas is rarely laziness. For many it's regarded as a once a year treat to be waited on with no washing up afterwards.
Personally, after a hard year's graft, it's a price worth paying.
It's not all about the food.

fetchacloth · 28/12/2023 17:02

purpleopolis · 28/12/2023 09:34

I can vouch for the fact that not all staff get paid more to work in restaurants over Bank holidays. A few years ago, my son was working as a waiter at popular venue along a seafront, near where we live. They hold pantomimes and shows there throughout the year. He worked New Year’s Eve, until 1am and was paid minimum wage, as were all the others. If anyone said they couldn’t do it, they were told they wouldn’t have a job in the New year. They didn’t even get tips, because customers probably thought they were earning loads that night. The venue didn’t even care how they got home. It annoyed me so much.

I agree that's harsh, but New Year's Eve is not a bank holiday which is why the venue could get away with paying your son standard wages.
Had he been working on a bank holiday it would be more difficult to get away with that as the industry norm is to pay double pay on those days.
I do agree though that some transport should have been paid for (taxis) to ensure staff arrived home safely.

Boomer55 · 28/12/2023 17:12

Christmas meals out are a bit like wedding meals - catered for en masse, and not really that good.

SnufflyBunny · 28/12/2023 17:15

I love how people are telling me what I get paid. I live in the north, have worked both care and hospitality jobs for nearly thirty years and I can guarantee, that extra pay over the Christmas period is AN EXTREMELY RARE EXCEPTION and most definitely not the norm.

MixingMimosas · 28/12/2023 17:25

I was at the Wolseley this week and it was not very good at all. Particularly the service.

Katej82 · 28/12/2023 17:37

Yes we went to an Indian restaurant because I'm fed up of the yearly cooking and cleaning. It's a fabulous restaurant they've won awards and it was just as good as usual very well organised at £45 per head for any starter main and desert or coffee. It was great the staff were all in costumes like Rudolf kids loved it and could have English meals if preferred.

43ontherocksporfavor · 28/12/2023 17:40

See if went out for an Indian meal I don’t want staff in reindeer costume. I’d be going to avoid all the standard Christmas stuff. Good price though and sounds very appealing for next year.

MassageForLife · 28/12/2023 18:07

purpleopolis · 28/12/2023 13:18

@MassageForLife
i know it’s not a bank holiday, but i think most people would expect that staff working until 1pm on New Years Eve, would also attract a similar payment to those working at Christmas? Unless I’m wrong…

I wouldn't expect that. If they were working He Years Day or (in Scotland) there 2nd, then I would.

There's definitely an argument for double time for the final hour of the shift, but when I worked night shifts (proper night shifts, like 10pm to 6am) you would get the extra for one of the shifts, rather than for the hours on the actual day itself.

purpleopolis · 28/12/2023 18:08

@fetchacloth Thankyou - yes, I can see your point…his normal shifts there used to end around 10 pm, so to work until 1 also grated on me a bit. It was the threats of he wouldn’t have a job that also stung a bit, but never mind, he’s not there any more thankfully.

Katej82 · 28/12/2023 21:21

I think the costumes were just a laugh for the families really didn't bother me. The food and service was just as good as always and they spaced out arrival times so reception wasn't crowded. It's a small village though so not like city centre hustle and bustle.

Jack80 · 28/12/2023 22:45

I'm not sure I could justify the amount to pay to eat out when Christmas eve and boxing day are cheaper

asdfgasdfg · 29/01/2024 22:01

We've always gone to the local dog track for a meal on Boxing Day. The staff there don't get extra pay, we asked them. We always leave a good tip but don't know how it's split between them.

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