Is it cheap not to cater?

[Itrtttyy]

it’s a significant birthday and a function room is being hired out 4-6pm for around 40 guests then afterwards carrying on in nearby (nice) pubs. The function room place serves food as do a few nearby pubs.

Does the event need catered (a buffet)?

Yes - YABU
No - YANBU

So people are just meeting to go on pub crawl at first pub?
I hope she’s not expecting people to buy her drinks.

OK, keep your hair on!

No presents expected, no food, no drinks supplied. Fair swop.

She will expect everyone to buy their own but I think that’s entirely reasonable.

I suspect, certainly early on, that the moves between pubs won’t be very quick. Otherwise it will be impossible.

I would at least expect her to have finger food organised for one the pubs you are going to. I wouldn't necessarily expect it in the first place with the function room, but if she's expecting some people to go out at 4 and stay out all night yes she should be providing some sort of food along the way!

This is so cruel and triggering to people with alopecia!

Only joking.....

Yes, I guess that’s what it is. Meeting at a reserved function room in a pub for a couple of hours first before going elsewhere.

I think if it's a function room in a pub then that is fine and people can buy their own food, as long as there is somewhere to sit down and eat. I would prefer this tbh as I could then choose what to eat.

OP- I hope you are planning on showing your 'friend' this thread???

So will you all be getting booted out of the function room at 6pm?

What if birthday cheapskate girl is wanting to move onto the next pub, but people have only just ordered food?

It’s very odd just inviting that many people for two hours of drinks and no food. I guess since people have been told then it’s up to them whether to come, and certainly when we were younger all getting out own food at a pub / bar was the norm for birthdays. Just feels a bit cheep for a 40th.

Of course I’m not.

Really weird setup tbh OP I'm not surprised you're in 2 minds about going

I've been to that sort of birthday/ celebration before but what tends to happen is the tables are reserved until the pub closes and people drop in at whatever time they fancy, sometimes stay for one drink, some for the duration and people order food when they get hungry.

The pub crawl part seems designed to whittle the numbers down to a select few very quickly.

It sounds rubbish tbh. Has she been to a party before?

I suspect that we’ll end up going downstairs in the same pub for a while first. If people are ordering as everyone’s leaving I guess they’re just told where to go afterwards.

My bet is that most people just end up staying at the first pub all night seeing as she's reserved the area.

Exactly. Why not just invite people to the pub and cut this bit out altogether?

I think so the tables are all reserved and everyone’s together.

I went to a 60th party in a local hotel. Stupidly I didn't eat beforehand as I expected there would be food.

Nope - absolutely nothing.

Seemingly to quote a stupid Scottish saying, "Eating's cheating"

Who knew 🙄

Cheap - yes. As they can’t be bothered to feed their guests. Illogical - absolutely, it starts at 4. When would they eat?

Why would you bother to book a room and not do food? May aswell cancel and go straight to the pubs.

Some people might leave straight after the function room in search for food instead.

I wouldn’t be bothered about food not being provided between 4 and 6 as I could have lunch first.
But then being out drinking from 4, I’m going to either want food or I’ll probably be getting fairly shitfaced and going home earlier than I’d like to.

if it was me organising that I’d have a place marked out to get food about 8ish.

If people are ordering as everyone’s leaving I guess they’re just told where to go

😂 yep, literally.

Cheers for coming, but we’re off to the next pub now so fuck you.

Yes. I'd expect to provide food if hosting a party

I think your timings are way off - expecting people to eat at 3pm before starting drinking for the day/ night, is asking for trouble - people will get messy.

It's a weird idea for a party. Either host an afternoon party or meet in the pub at 8pm for the night.

Needs more thought as to the order and details of the event and the day. And communicate to the attendees.
Can be catered or not but needs thought as to what people will do between 2 and 4 at the venue and if they will or won't be catered for then needs to let everyone know.

I think a pp nailed it. The pre crawl function room gig is designed for those who hate pub crawls (that would be me!). The true weak with the hunger "friends" will carry on to the pub crawl.