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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Has lack of Premier Inn breakfast ruined the weekend?

474 replies

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 16:33

I mean, it hasn't, not for me, but DH seems to feel otherwise and I don't know if I've been UR. We (us and two dc) were in London overnight to see a show. We would normally maximise our time in the city and leave maybe this sort of time on Sunday, but we've all been ill and still feel a bit tired and rundown and so agreed we'd leave after breakfast and maybe a walk/quick trip to a park or the river.

When I woke I realised our PI was about a 20 minute walk from Shoreditch market where I was sure there are loads of cafes and stalls. Although we normally have the PI breakfast I thought this would be a nice change and mean we would be doing what we had planned (quick trip to somewhere nice and a walk) and could then leave. Also looked up a particular cafe that looked nice. Everyone agreed - all fine.

When we arrived at the cafe there was a queue. DH immediately said in a moody way, 'That's that then,' and started huffing. I said let's walk up (we were at the end of the road) it might not be that bad, but he had walked off. We ended up wandering around the area with him getting increasingly grumpy. Sods law, we weren't really going past any suitable looking cafes, although I'm sure the area is full of them. We did see a Pret but I didn't want that.

We eventually saw a nice independent cafe where we were able to have porridge,pastries, toast and spreads, fresh juice and lovely coffee. We all ate but DH wouldn't stop going on about the bloody PI. Yes, I get that he would eat his body weight there and we ended up with a relatively small breakfast that probably cost more (though our kids are 16 and 18, so no more free PI breakfasts!) but what we had was lovely, the place was lovely, and a bit different, and, ffs, PI will still be there next time. I offered to look for another place or even a Greggs for him to 'top up,' but he went in full strop mode. DS1 loves a PI breakfast too and he didn't moan, and dd was wanting pancakes in the place with a queue but she didn't moan that she didn't end up getting them, it's just him acting like a child. He also moaned about the cost, saying PI breakfast would have done for lunch as well, but we were home in time for a late lunch and no one wanted food on the journey so it's like he's just looking for stuff to moan about.

We're home now but he has said he's sick of me making all the decisions, I'm fussy and nothing is good enough and I'm just hard work. He's gone for a run but it was an atmosphere all the way home. Did I do wrong - I get I could have looked at booking but to me it worked out fine in the end.

OP posts:
Bobiverse · 18/01/2026 16:36

When you saw Pret, did everyone else want to eat there and just you said no, so that meant you had to keep looking?

BillieWiper · 18/01/2026 16:38

I'm pretty sure the PI breakfast would be middling at best, possibly fairly grim. I've not heard of Shoreditch market but I know they're are certainly loads of cafes in that area. He's being a miserable sod!

BoarBrush · 18/01/2026 16:40

Premier Inn breakfasts are shite so yanbu

Bobiverse · 18/01/2026 16:41

BillieWiper · 18/01/2026 16:38

I'm pretty sure the PI breakfast would be middling at best, possibly fairly grim. I've not heard of Shoreditch market but I know they're are certainly loads of cafes in that area. He's being a miserable sod!

There’s nothing wrong with a premier inn breakfast; unlimited cooked breakfast and whatever pastries you want. It’s easy and convenient and a cooked breakfast isn’t hard to do. I’d rather have had that breakfast that walking around looking for something if OP was indeed spending the whole time saying the cafes weren’t suitable for her or she didn’t want to eat them. It does sound like she was maybe a little difficult whilst everyone else would have picked somewhere quite happily, maybe. But we need more information to know.

InnerAnger · 18/01/2026 16:42

I stay at Premier Inns regularly. But never ever eat breakfast there. There are usually many other better options!

Ophir · 18/01/2026 16:43

If he and or your dc wanted PI breakfasts, they could just have had them, and met up with you after they’d eaten

Crikeyalmighty · 18/01/2026 16:43

Apart from the fact they are as much as you want , they are spectacularly middling quality ‘at best’ - personally I find them utterly tasteless and think they appeal to greedy people who value quantity over quality - so no YANBU

Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:43

If he'd wanted a PI breakfast I'm sure he could have had one. It's just a couple of fairly bog standard sausages and some dry beans.

It sounds like your dh was trying to get you to make the decision he wanted without actually using his words. The lack of PI breakfast was only an issue to him and it sounds like his stropping that was in fact the ruiner of the morning

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 16:45

When I say 'suitable looking cafes,' I really just mean cafes! We didn't see any (that were open) for quite a while, except one, but that was before we got to the one with a queue and we didn't want to walk back on ourselves once we (he) had rejected the queue one. I did say no to Pret, but no one was that bothered. If they'd said they really wanted it I would have gone in.

OP posts:
Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:46

Bobiverse · 18/01/2026 16:41

There’s nothing wrong with a premier inn breakfast; unlimited cooked breakfast and whatever pastries you want. It’s easy and convenient and a cooked breakfast isn’t hard to do. I’d rather have had that breakfast that walking around looking for something if OP was indeed spending the whole time saying the cafes weren’t suitable for her or she didn’t want to eat them. It does sound like she was maybe a little difficult whilst everyone else would have picked somewhere quite happily, maybe. But we need more information to know.

Given the fact her DH stropped off when he saw the queue for the cafe they'd chosen and was getting more and more grumpy I'm not sure where your getting the idea it was op being difficult

He also agreed to go to the cafe. If he'd wanted a Premier Inn breakfast that badly he should have said.

BillieWiper · 18/01/2026 16:46

Bobiverse · 18/01/2026 16:41

There’s nothing wrong with a premier inn breakfast; unlimited cooked breakfast and whatever pastries you want. It’s easy and convenient and a cooked breakfast isn’t hard to do. I’d rather have had that breakfast that walking around looking for something if OP was indeed spending the whole time saying the cafes weren’t suitable for her or she didn’t want to eat them. It does sound like she was maybe a little difficult whilst everyone else would have picked somewhere quite happily, maybe. But we need more information to know.

I guess if OP kept rejecting various other options to the point everyone was hangry and feeling like they were traipsing round aimlessly and fruitlessly then yeah. I can agree I'd be lamenting the fact we didn't just grab something at the hotel.

But ultimately if they did find a nice cute cafe it'd be more 'culturally enriching' as part of a holiday than just getting generic PI buffet.

twilightcafe · 18/01/2026 16:46

Ridiculous man.
As if his world caved in cos he couldn't get a breakfast at Premier Inn.

RampantIvy · 18/01/2026 16:46

I don't like PI breakfasts or any hotel breakfat where the "hot" food is set out buffet style as it is usually lukewarm and upsets my stomach.

I usually just want a slice of toast for breakfast, and I'm not prepared to soend £9.99 at a PI for a slice of toast and a cup of tea.

Appletree56 · 18/01/2026 16:47

My DC and DH would be pretty annoyed not to get a PI breakfast, probably what the DC would look forward to most as they are now teens and can fill up on whatever they want. It's a perk of a trip away and it wouldn't cross my mind to look for a alternative.

Toothfairy89 · 18/01/2026 16:48

Also at the end of the day it's only breakfast. Not worth having a tantrum over. Not getting the breakfast you want is not a day ruiner. It doesn't justify creating an atmosphere or behaving poorly. Sometimes you don't get the breakfast you want

Bobiverse · 18/01/2026 16:48

RampantIvy · 18/01/2026 16:46

I don't like PI breakfasts or any hotel breakfat where the "hot" food is set out buffet style as it is usually lukewarm and upsets my stomach.

I usually just want a slice of toast for breakfast, and I'm not prepared to soend £9.99 at a PI for a slice of toast and a cup of tea.

I thought PI always cooked to order? The pastry stuff is set out as a buffet, but the hot food is made to order.
I’ve only actually ever stayed at 3 premier inns but they all did cook to order.

VivIsBlonde · 18/01/2026 16:48

Nothing beats a Premier inn breakfast 🤣🤣
We had the best one to date yesterday morning, I’ve got a few intolerances so sadly I can no longer eat the sausages, black pudding, crumpets, pancakes, toast or pastries. I fill up on a plate full of bacon, beans, tomatoes and I ask for runny poached eggs and then some fresh fruit!
My husband has the full works, a big plate of cooked breakfast, pancakes and yogurt with fruit!
It was great yesterday as it was a buffet, unfortunately our local one doesn’t usually have enough people booked in so they cook to order!

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 16:49

Oooo…nothing makes me grumpier than wandering around looking for a place to eat. So I can sympathize with your DH. Then there is the hangry point of no return where everything sucks.

so yeah I can see this situation ending what I’m sure was a great weekend on a sour note. All that being said I wouldn’t spend too much time thinking about as yourself or your DH.

LighthouseLED · 18/01/2026 16:49

I don’t think I’ve ever had a decent breakfast at a Premier Inn.

I’d always choose to go elsewhere if there were convenient places so YANBU.

Mirrorx · 18/01/2026 16:49

It doesn't really matter if the PI breakfast wold have been inferior. If that's what he wanted you need to discuss and agree options. It's not clear if that's what happened or if you did, as he says, impose your preference because you're fussy and look down on his choice because nothing's ever good enough.

It does sound like everyone else gave up what they would have preferred to go with you for something naice.

tinyspiny · 18/01/2026 16:49

Well I don’t like PI breakfasts but I think if you are somewhere that does breakfast and most of your party would have been happy eating there I’d have had breakfast and then gone out .

sparrowhawkhere · 18/01/2026 16:49

I love a premier inn breakfast! We can all have what we want, fill up ready for a day of exploring.

WhatNoRaisins · 18/01/2026 16:50

It does seem like a lot of bother when you could have just had a PI breakfast straight away and then gone out.

PersephoneSmith · 18/01/2026 16:50

What show did you see? [misses the point of the thread]

napody · 18/01/2026 16:50

BillieWiper · 18/01/2026 16:46

I guess if OP kept rejecting various other options to the point everyone was hangry and feeling like they were traipsing round aimlessly and fruitlessly then yeah. I can agree I'd be lamenting the fact we didn't just grab something at the hotel.

But ultimately if they did find a nice cute cafe it'd be more 'culturally enriching' as part of a holiday than just getting generic PI buffet.

I would be too, but I'm guessing the difference between us and OP's DH is 1. We wouldn't keep going on about it once we had food- we'd let it go, and 2. We would acknowledge our part in it- he could have said 'I really fancy a PI breakfast, I'm hungry already and we're right here- can we not eat then wander round Shoreditch?'

Although if I'd been in OPs shoes I would have said a breezy 'sorry guys I didn't expect it'd take that long to find somewhere'... so I'd acknowledge my part in it too.