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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:
LighthouseLED · 18/01/2026 22:15

Londonrach1 · 18/01/2026 22:12

Or after not before. Why you clean your teeth before breakfast. You cleaned it after tea so can't get dirty unless you eating overnight. I clean my teeth like everyone I know after breakfast hence why Id struggle to eat then not clean my teeth

Most dentists apparently recommend brushing before breakfast (yes, that seems odd to me as well but I’m not a dentist). Think it’s something to do with not damaging the enamel.

TwoTuesday · 18/01/2026 22:15

For me, the time to seek out artisan food in a strange area is not first thing in the morning, especially when people feel below par anyway, and it's freezing cold. But others might be fine with that.
He should have had his breakfast in the hotel first if he really, really wanted it, and sat with a coffee in the nice cafe while you had your more interesting food, if you really wanted that.
Sulking all day is a bit much, it was only breakfast. He can have a cooked breakfast at home whenever he wants can't he?

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2026 22:18

BlackCatDiscoClub · 18/01/2026 22:14

I'm so sorry, I'm team DH as I've been there. My DH is really fussy, hates chain cafes/restaurants, needs 'ambience' and all that. Whereas I get HANGRY. So many times we've been traipsing around for somewhere that fits his needs, me thinking about how I could be full and happy if we'd eaten at first place we found. And I have snapped after one of those days, asking why his needs trumped my need not to be hungry. It caused a much bigger discussion! So perhaps there is some of that in play here?

Do you genuinely believe that you are incapable of controlling your temper if you’re hungry? Like a toddler? Are you not in the least embarrassed by that?

FettleOfKish · 18/01/2026 22:19

YANBU. I had the dubious delight of Premier Inn breakfast twice last week and it was mediocre at best.

I’m in London for 2 nights next month for work. Staying at PI but haven’t booked breakfast because it’s London, awash with better places to have breakfast!

Fulmine · 18/01/2026 22:20

FcukBreastCancer · 18/01/2026 16:51

Yeah I might have been quite grumpy too trekking about hungry.
Our family does love a PI breakfast though.
You probably should have looked online for what was open

But would you have carried on sulking for hours afterwards? Or would you have acted like a grown-up and thought "What the hell, it's only breakfast, we can do it another time" and got on with your life?

BlackCatDiscoClub · 18/01/2026 22:21

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2026 22:18

Do you genuinely believe that you are incapable of controlling your temper if you’re hungry? Like a toddler? Are you not in the least embarrassed by that?

No I'm not embarrassed about needing to eat when im hungry? Some people can skip meals, or wait until something is perfect, others can't. And in a relationship you have to make sure theres a balance.

mathanxiety · 18/01/2026 22:26

Your H is a PITA.

You are not the problem.

WitsEnd129 · 18/01/2026 22:33

Liesmorelies · 18/01/2026 17:04

From my OP: nice independent cafe where we were able to have porridge,pastries, toast and spreads, fresh juice and lovely coffee. Does that sound mediocre to you? It absolutely wasn't.

You can get perfectly good porridge, pastries, toast and spreads with the Premier Inn Breakfast. PI coffee is pretty good too .If that’s all you ate at the independent cafe you went to, can’t see why you bothered!

Nancylancy · 18/01/2026 22:39

Well they all agreed (DH included) to the plan. If he wanted PI breakfast, there was nothing stopping him from booking it for himself, or for all of you.
YANBU.
He's a twat.

SpringBulbsPop · 18/01/2026 22:44

He sounds like a moody sulky man child.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 18/01/2026 22:49

I really fancy a Premier Inn breakfast now - haven't had one for ages.

Namechangerage · 18/01/2026 22:53

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 21:44

Ok you’re bound and determined to be in the right here so I’ll bow out now.

However your posts are starting to come across to me as manipulative. And don’t bother disagreeing because I’m sure I’ve got it all wrong and there’s another reason why you’re not wrong.

Hopefully you enjoyed the show and spending time with your family it’s a shame that it’s all been ruined by breakfast and 10+ hours later you’re still upset about it.

She’s already explained why she is still upset, his massive tantrum and sulking towards her…

Namechangerage · 18/01/2026 22:54

WitsEnd129 · 18/01/2026 22:33

You can get perfectly good porridge, pastries, toast and spreads with the Premier Inn Breakfast. PI coffee is pretty good too .If that’s all you ate at the independent cafe you went to, can’t see why you bothered!

is that a joke? I really don’t mind PI breakfast but the coffee is definitely not what I would choose if there were loads of proper coffee shops nearby… same with the pastries!

Goditsmemargaret · 18/01/2026 22:58

Hotel breakfasts are generally shit and PI are no different. I always opt for room only rate.

MissAmbrosia · 18/01/2026 23:12

The last PI breakfast I had was totally poor, but if I had to trudge round in the cold when hungry looking for an alternative I would be pissed off too.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 18/01/2026 23:17

Namechangerage · 18/01/2026 22:53

She’s already explained why she is still upset, his massive tantrum and sulking towards her…

Gotcha

hollyandribbon · 18/01/2026 23:59

If my husband kicked up this much of a fuss over a premier inn breakfast he’d be eating them every day as he’d be living in one.

Walking off because there was a queue at the place OP researched? As if it was somehow her fault that it was busy, when the whole family had agreed to the plan to eat somewhere else and then creating an atmosphere all the way home… no thanks.

NorthXNorthWest · 19/01/2026 00:35

Oopsylazy · 18/01/2026 21:52

I feel like there’s a new generation of women on MN who are completely clueless about abusive men and their behaviours. They seem to have a very low bar and think everyone else should too.

Or is it the MRA’s infiltrating?

You’d probably get better advice on the Relationships board OP.

The problem is not a new generation of women, it's your Inernalised misogyny.

Who are you or any other poster to try and control or silence women who don't agree with your Interpretation. We are not 'clueless', we don't 'have a low bar' nor are we 'men', we just understand the difference between the AIBU board and an echo chamber. Perhaps you should ask Mumsnet to set up an Echo Chamber board. Seems like that might be more your style.

JMSA · 19/01/2026 00:40

Sounds like he was being a hangry misery.
YANBU.

Cattywillow · 19/01/2026 03:50

Traipsing around looking for somewhere to eat is an incredibly frustrating and common thing to happen when travelling. It happened to us this morning. We were all frustrated and snappy with each other but we got over it once suitably caffeinated. To hold a grudge like that and ruin everyone else’s day is beyond childish.

AgnesMcDoo · 19/01/2026 05:01

Premier Inn breakfasts are bad.

they use cheap ingredients and never employ enough staff so the place is always messy and dirty, food stations empty etc.

bumphousebump · 19/01/2026 07:36

LighthouseLED · 18/01/2026 22:15

Most dentists apparently recommend brushing before breakfast (yes, that seems odd to me as well but I’m not a dentist). Think it’s something to do with not damaging the enamel.

Yep, dentists say brush your teeth before breakfast and don’t rinse.

bumphousebump · 19/01/2026 07:40

JemimaTiggywinkles · 18/01/2026 22:18

Do you genuinely believe that you are incapable of controlling your temper if you’re hungry? Like a toddler? Are you not in the least embarrassed by that?

DH and I both get ‘hangry’ it’s a real thing. So while there are times we’d rather not eat another hotel breakfast we will to avoid traipsing round getting more and more annoyed with each other and falling into somewhere unsuitable. I also filter for great breakfast when looking at hotels other than Premier Inn. And while a PI breakfast is fine generally. The atmosphere can be pretty awful….

Topseyt123 · 19/01/2026 07:43

bumphousebump · 19/01/2026 07:36

Yep, dentists say brush your teeth before breakfast and don’t rinse.

I've heard all of that many times now and intend to fully ignore it.

My teeth are still pretty clean from a good brushing at bedtime the previous night before I have breakfast. So I have always cleaned them after breakfast but before going out anywhere and will continue to do so. They are thoroughly cleaned twice a day, occasionally more.

I always rinse out afterwards too and will continue that as well. At nearly 60 I still have all of my own teeth and no problems.

Blueberrypickle · 19/01/2026 07:52

@Liesmorelies I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.

My ex was a bit like your DH - I had to make all the decisions otherwise nothing would get done. My DH would make out he didn't have an opinion and would go along with things, but then he would sulk and complain during and afterwards.

Your DH could easily have said "Actually I'd prefer to have the PI breakfast". He could have had it on his own and met you all later, or one of the DC could have had it with him and the other DC go to a cafe with you, or you could all have stayed at the PI.

The problem is that he just went along with things and didn't say what he wanted! He must have known that going to a cafe on a weekend morning in a popular area of London, there was a chance that there would be a queue. So he made that choice to go along with the plan - if he didn't think about the possible consequences of his choice, that's on him!

You're not a mind reader - it's up to him to say what he wants, and then you can come to a compromise that suits everyone!

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