To eat at a restaurant alone on Christmas day

[Gorganzolabrie]

I'm a single woman in my sixties with no children. This year all my family and friends will be away/with other family for Christmas and for the first time ever I'll be alone on the 25th. This doesn't particularly bother me. It would be nice to have someone to spend Christmas with but I'm not a very Christmassy person and I'm looking forward to going away for a week over New Year.

I discovered that one of my favourite local restaurants is open for a few hours in the afternoon and has a Christmas menu, so I booked myself in. I'm now having second thoughts. I'm wondering if I'll feels self-conscious dining on my own on Christmas day. I don't really want to be an object of people's curiosity or pity and I certainly don't want to be invited to join another table. Should I cancel and have a more relaxing time on my own? I'm also curious about whether any of you have dined alone in public on Christmas day? What was it like? If you saw somebody doing it, would you feel sorry for them?

YABU - Sod what people think - go and enjoy your solo meal

YANBU - Stay at home. It will be less stressful

TIA for your responses.

Of course she can…but she’s inviting people to comment on it!

Sorry OP, I voted YANBU by mistake!

Go. It sounds wonderful and you will probably have a better and more enjoyable Xmas lunch than I will!

Good for you @Gorganzolabrie this sounds like really nice place. I’m jealous as my little French restaurant closed awhile ago.

Enjoy your day!

I've just booked for the same restaurant as I went to last year. They accepted my enquiry with "You came last year didn't you? It will be lovely to see you again" 😍

That's daft . The restaurant will be open because there are couples and families paying a whole lot of money to dine there. Whether the OP dined out or not will have absolutely no impact on the restaurant opening or the staff having to work.

The restaurant is open because there is a demand, and the OP would be part of that demand.

If we don’t demand it then it isn’t there and people can have that time off.

I know - not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone wants to and some want to work, but to me, it is a day we should have off. And I wouldn’t feel right about making others work on it.

You're speaking from a place of such privilege, it's coming across as quite ignorant.

Waiting staff can literally earn way over £100 in much needed tips and they can take a different day off if they're happy to.

No-one is forcing them barefoot out of their homes and up a metaphorical chimney.

Yes, go and enjoy yourself 😊 Hope you have a lovely day 😊 If anyone invites you to their table, just say you've got a highly infectious condition 😃

Sounds good. I'd take a book as I'd be bored just sitting there eating - but I certainly wouldn't want to be invited onto another table! I like my privacy.

I agree. Just say "Very kind of you but I spent many a year at Christmas with a very difficult person and it's a pleasure to be on my own."

"

I hope you go and have a marvelous time, OP. I wish I could join you (sitting at a different table, as it were). I have a houseful and am craving alone time.

I must say, though, how disappointing depressing as fuck it is to see how many people think it "brave" for a woman to eat out alone. Whether it be Christmas Day or not. Is that really how far we've come - are people really so concerned by the opinions of complete strangers that it requires "bravery" to overcome them? The reality is that most people barely give each other a passing thought. The idea of changing my behavior to suit the passing thought of strangers is absurd to me.

Merry Christmas, OP!

Go and enjoy it. Who cares what other people think?
If I were doing that, I'd enjoy watching everyone else. But then I like people-watching.

Sounds amazing. Go for it and have a great time.

As someone above, take a book/kindle. If you do feel a bit self conscious, you have a way of escape.

Do whatever makes you happy! If it were me, I’d go, saves the cooking and washing up, and you might get a bit of a laugh people watching! Hope you have a lovely Christmas whatever you decide x

I'd be that person that invites you to sit with us 🙈🙈 I'd also probably shed a few tears that you were alone, I can't help it, it's the type of person I am. I'm silly really, i would just assume that anyone alone was unhappy being alone, you're clearly fine with your own company and many others too, I wouldn't be, I'd be sad and that's probably why I feel the way I do. I say go and enjoy your meal but expect to come across people like me 🤣🙈🙈

Oh God, you're my worst nightmare lol 😂
Why assume that anyone eating alone must be sad and want the company of strangers?!
I love sometimes going out for meals by myself, it's peaceful me time and I don't want to have to try and make small talk with random strangers feeling "sorry" for me.
As for shedding a tear, I'd think you were a bit lot batshit 😁

YABU it sounds amazing. Good food, some you time, and no cooking or washing up. And being in the presence of other people means you get that little bit of festive spirit that you might not at home alone.

Have a great time :)

If you as much as switch a light on or watch television there is someone working to make sure that happens on Christmas Day. Plus all the emergency services are working. So unless you plan on staying in bed and not using any utilities someone somewhere is working for you.

I am single and discovered the pleasure of eating alone quite recently. On Christmas Day you may be invited to join another table or have to smile at unwelcome Christmas banter from other guests. I suggest finding and booking a table a bit tucked away and bring your own reading material and headphones. Or asking the restaurant to make a dinner to go. Either that or just embrace the atmosphere - there will definitely be people eating with their family who will be envious of your solitude!

No one is making others work it at all. People go into jobs knowing full well they might end up working on xmas. Hospitality staff make a lot in tips on xmas, and probably get paid more too.
I know it was not the same, but I worked in the NHS and it was double pay with a lieu day too. Some of the relatives of patients would not be local, so would be eating out on xmas day. Or are they meant to stay in their hotel/B&B with a Pot Noodle?

The manager of my local pub is opening up on xmas day because he "doesn't want to risk food poisoning at his mums" 😂 My DP will be there (I go to my parents).

I suspect most people looking at you would be filled with envy. What an absolute treat !!

Sounds heavenly to me! I travel solo and am happy with eating out on my own. Enjoy your day.

I used to be a waitress/bar staff in my local pub and we all absolutely loved the Christmas Day shift. 3 hour shift, double time, and almost the equivalent of a month’s wage in tips? Bring it on.

We’d be open from 12-3, if I was at home during that time we would’ve just been chilling and going our separate ways getting dressed and ready, waiting for the dinner to cook, putting our presents away, waiting for guests to arrive etc…

We always had a few single diners as well, some would be invited to join other tables and some were perfectly happy to be on their own. If you do feel uncomfortable, there is the option ask to take the food to-go.

Getting dressed up, enjoying a solo dinner while doing some people watching, then going home and having a few drinks & watching whatever you want on the tv sounds like a wonderful Christmas.

Whatever you intend to do OP, I hope you enjoy your day 🎄

Sounds glorious to me! Enjoy it OP!