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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much

412 replies

GrealishGoddess · 31/08/2025 19:55

Deeply middle class problem but. Anyone else noticed that you can no longer get out of the likes of Bill’s, Wagamama, Pizza Express, etc , with two teens, for less than £100. Is this just inflation, NI effects, price gouging, what? AIBU to stay home?

OP posts:
Emori · 07/09/2025 02:01

Bluelilacbella · 06/09/2025 23:11

It’s probably healthier too!

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Well you can apply that to anything surely can't you? Why eat out when you can eat at home? Why go to the cinema when you can watch telly? Why talk to people when you can stare at a wall? Etc.

Bluelilacbella · 07/09/2025 07:18

Emori · 07/09/2025 02:01

Well you can apply that to anything surely can't you? Why eat out when you can eat at home? Why go to the cinema when you can watch telly? Why talk to people when you can stare at a wall? Etc.

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Why is watching telly and staring at a wall healthier than going to the cinema or talking to someone??

Crikeyalmighty · 07/09/2025 10:15

@KhakiTiger whilst I partly agree - that’s not really fair on Wagamama who you can at least see see and hear cooking fresh

suki1964 · 07/09/2025 23:06

MasterBeth · 04/09/2025 14:47

Well, obviously that depends entirely on your takeaway pizza provider.

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No, it dont,

Pizza in the UK is overpriced crap - you only have to look at the PE menu and see that are taking the total piss

Doesn't matter who you are bying it from, end of the day it's an open sandwich that's grilled. You paying £15 + for that? They saw you coming - especially if they realised they only needed to sell the crust with half ( possibly less ) a bag of leaves filling that cavernous hole - Did PE marketing win ever award going with that one

LGBirmingham · 08/09/2025 19:56

Crikeyalmighty · 06/09/2025 20:58

@StarCurator personally I would be taking VAT right down to 5% if any at all in the hospitality world - when you balance it up customers bills are 20% VAT , which they can then offset against all their costs outwards, so in many cases it nets off and to me all seems rather pointless. If we could actually lower prices to consumer slightly, it may be perceived more as better value and help keep our hospitality businesses on more of an even keel .

It's a very good idea. Particularly as restaurants/cafes etc... are the one business that is helping the high st hang on in there. I mean what do we want, a world where everything is delivered to us buy a few select businesses, . Basically Amazon and supermarkets!?

zaazaazoom · 08/09/2025 19:58

MessageMystery · 31/08/2025 20:06

4 people don’t need 4 pizzas. I’d get two and a side dish for four.

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My 6 foot 4 teenage lads easily eat a full pizza and more. They are dead skinny and always hungry.

LittleBearPad · 08/09/2025 20:26

Jesslovesengineering · 07/09/2025 01:46

I don't eat at chain restaurants. The food isnt authentic and the prices are ridiculous. In the north east, where I live, there is an independent chain who serve authentic Italian food and they do a lunch time special ranging from £7.95 to £9.95 per head, for soup or potato skins, selected pizza or pasta and coffee or ice cream. Maybe try supporting local, / independent / regional places?

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I’m not sure potato skins count as authentically Italian…

Jesslovesengineering · 08/09/2025 20:29

LittleBearPad · 08/09/2025 20:26

I’m not sure potato skins count as authentically Italian…

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No but the (minestrone) soup alternative is. And I'm not complaining at that price. I cook authentic Italian at home and travelled there on business a lot, before I had my son so....

LGBirmingham · 08/09/2025 21:13

Jesslovesengineering · 08/09/2025 20:29

No but the (minestrone) soup alternative is. And I'm not complaining at that price. I cook authentic Italian at home and travelled there on business a lot, before I had my son so....

Edited
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That's an unbelievable price, I actually almost don't believe you've been there this year the price is so cheap. Independents round my part of Brum are probably the same cost as a chain, or maybe more expensive depending on the place.

Cakeandusername · 08/09/2025 22:27

Saw a sign at pizza express today advertising £50 family deal and thought of this thread.

£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much
Jesslovesengineering · 09/09/2025 05:18

LGBirmingham · 08/09/2025 21:13

That's an unbelievable price, I actually almost don't believe you've been there this year the price is so cheap. Independents round my part of Brum are probably the same cost as a chain, or maybe more expensive depending on the place.

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I've been to multiple sambucas this year, lol. They're everywhere. There must be about 20 of them. Blyth and Whitley Bay used to be the cheapest, at £7.95 but I just checked the website and they're doing £6.95 as a promo, at the "recently opened" Morpeth one. I'm shocked about that because Morpeth is seen as posh, by the other small towns in Northumberland 😂 Generally, you can expect to spend £8.95 or £9.95, unless visiting the ones in small towns.

£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much
£100 for a casual lunch out for 4 is too much
Crikeyalmighty · 09/09/2025 09:47

@Jesslovesengineering there’s one Italian a bit like this in Brighton - I’ve forgot what it’s called but it’s next to Tonkatsu ( excellent ramen place) - I haven’t eaten there so couldn’t vouch for quality but i did do a double take at the prices whilst perusing the menu - it was rammed too - a bit pricier this as was the evening but a lot of mains were around £11 to £13 and starters around £6.50 which in Brighton is a bargain

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