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

YES THERE SHOULD.

I think we've all made that clear.

I'd think that, at a minimum, ordering a few platters of food for the table at the first pub.

Okay. I’m not arguing with you, so I’m not sure why you’re getting het up.

Yes there should be a buffet at the 4-6 function room part. And a glass of fizz for everyone.

Your “friend” should forget the decorating the function room and spend the money on food and drinks instead.

If the function room is not available after 6 and your friend wants to decorate it, will she have to take down all the decorations by 6?

On my 40th I did a version of #4. My Mum put some £ behind the bar for friend's to have a couple of drinks each, some folk took the absolute p1ss I must admit....

No food other than a cake BUT;

-I estimated numbers and reserved seats in a pub.
-It started at 20:00 for most. It was clearly a pub/drinking only time.
-I paid a fair amount for a comedy act/singer that I knew would be to my friends taste.
-I told people they were welcome to stay over. I have a spare double room and a sofa bed first 'booked' first served, ended up with a couple in the spare room, one on a camper on floor of said room, one on sofa bed one on sofa! 🤣
-I made sure i had fizz, wine, beer and cider should anyone want to come back for a drink.
-I made a tonne of potato wedges/nice breads, salads and dips so that anyone coming back had something to nibble on at least, nothing fancy but nobody wants fancy after 5 pints (not amidst my friends anyway!) But something !

Function rooms need a function in them IMO? Surely spending a small amount on crisps, dips, sandwiches and salads is normal. Doesn't have to cost much- As other people have said, it gets people mingling, is an incentive, soaks up alcohol and is just part of the celebration.

Friends. Rouge apostrophe!

I honestly have no idea. Don’t know if it’s her responsibility or the bar will do it for her.

Because you posed the question, everyone said yes, there should be food - and then you asked again!

So you spent money on hiring a singer but didn’t put any food on for those who didn’t come back to yours?

That one is easy. She’s not putting money behind the bar or buying food, the cheapskate needs to do it herself

Has your friend paid for entertainment?

I didn’t ask again. I responded to a specific poster. Read properly.

I think the 4-6 function room needs ditching completely. What a shit idea. Why would you hire a room for 2 hours and not provide a welcome drink, buffet or entertainment?

Then everyone meets in the first pub at 7pm after having dinner at home.

I've done pub crawls in my hey days where at least 40 people attended and any reasonable sized chain pub will be able to accommodate an influx of 40 people.

Op you keep saying that people can order food at the pub, but it's unlikely they'll serve in the function room which will mean people finding tables downstairs, and depending on what type of pub at tea time, which 4-6 is, it could be very busy and might take people an hour plus to order, get their food and eat it! Honestly she might find a lot of people bail on her cos the 'party' sounds shit.

I don’t know but I doubt it. Might be surprised though.

I assume my friend has no buffet because she’s always been tight. If she splashed money on entertainment before food I’d be even more bemused. But then we’ve all been to weddings with thousands spent on bands and flowers whilst all the guests are starving.

@Itrtttyy Essentially she has organised a glorified meeting place. I think booking the room from 7 for an hour or two would at least let people eat beforehand but I suppose the pub wants it for , y'know , Actual Functions.

I think she should definitely see what the pub could rustle up as a buffet - they may if it's dead time to them. Even just sausages , cheese , bread - Oh I don't know just something. But I am singing off everyone's hymn sheet here. Is she hard up or is it being just a bit tight. Either which way I'd be tempted to save even more by not bothering with the decorations.

Intriguing though . I do hope you report back. Who know this may prove to be The Way Forward for significant birthday celebrations 😂

I think she’d have checked that we can eat in the function room.

Unlikely, she’s not exactly thinking of the guests here is she. It’s all about her.

Agree with you entirely. I’m not sure why people think pubs would struggle with 40 people though. That’s the least of the problems.

Of course you must provide food and drink. Otherwise you have a group of people standing around in a function room.

She’ll be being tight. Almost certain of it.

If I was invited to this - buffet or no buffet at the function room - I’d just totally surpass the function room altogether. I’d eat at home about 6pm then I’d meet everyone at the pubs at around 6:30/7pm.

A do/party should be -
Function room with a buffet - 7pm whilst midnight/closing time.

Or

Pub crawls starting at 7pm. Everyone eats beforehand at home, or you all go for a dirty kebab at the end of the night.

I think most people would follow you to the curry house.

Why would anyone need to go to a curry house? Buy a curry or whatever at the pub. People are not banned from eating.