Has lack of Premier Inn breakfast ruined the weekend?

[Liesmorelies]

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.

I would have searched online for breakfast places before leaving the hotel (incidentally I was in London a few weeks ago and had breakfast at Eggslut and it was so good).
I'm a foodie so no way would I be in London and have a PI breakfast where there tonnes of indie places around.

So there was a plentiful breakfast available at the hotel but instead you all had to go out on a 20 minute walk presumably without so much as a cup of tea and a hungry "I want my breakfast" stomach?!
Yeah, I'd have been getting hangry too especially if after the 20 minute walk there was
"What about that Pret?"
"No, don't want that".
Then a queue and more dithering about.

Rarrgh 😁
#TeamDH

I have never experienced a Premier Inn Breakfast, but I wouldn't want to go somewhere on holiday and then eat the same thing I'd eaten many times before, because of the quantitiy of it available.

He was probably tired and run down and hangry, I'd let him sulk, and next time ask him to contribute to plans or go along with what's planned. Wandering around and finding new places and having new experiences is part of the fun, surely? He could have a Premier Inn breakfast close to home every weekend should he wish.

But the point is / he could have said “I’d rather eat here first “ and didn’t

not the actual end result of a a simpler higher quality breakfast against the PI option

They could easily have had tea and coffee in their rooms before going out

Sounds lovely and I would have enjoyed it but to be fair if you really want a cooked breakfast toast and pastries aren’t going to cut it really.

I think it depends whether it was a unilateral decision (by you), or a group decision not to eat at the hotel?

Next time, make no decisions and see what happens.

But porridge and pastries are not as good as cheap hash browns and eggs and sausages with lots of ketchup

i love a cheap and cheerful mediocre Dnglish Breakfast

porridge in a naice cafe would make me sad 😁😁😁 And I don’t care for pastries

i also do not care for being bossed around about where to eat 😁😁😁

oh dear, I’m on grumpy husband’s side 😮

He did contribute to the plans, first plan, PI breakfast, second plan Pret

OP didnt like either

Ive been there, I am OP, this is what I do and its really annoying and wastes a lot of time.

Sounds as though he was really looking forwards to that PI breakfast. He should have made that clear but also you could easily have had the PI breakfast and then gone out for a mid morning coffee in a nice cafe instead.

It sounds like you insisted on a trek to satisfy a desire you had for something novel and maybe more upmarket(?) when DH, at least, needs to eat before he gets going, needs more food than you, and may be prefers a different style of breakfast. Given you were leaving after breakfast because you were all a bit run down I think it was entirely the wrong time to try and do something different and very much the wrong time to trek around and look for something.

I would also normally prefer an independent cafe to a PI breakfast, but if we're going to do that, it's part of the plan for the weekend that everyone knows about in advance. DH will have made sure he had a packet of nuts or something to give his blood sugar a boost before the trek, etc. I'm much more of a lark than DH so very occasionally I will go out by myself first thing and have a lovely breakfast somewhere on my own while DH enjoys a more leisurely morning with the hotel breakfast and a lie in.

Your DH's sulking is bloody annoying and if he has a habit of doing that when he doesn't get his own way I think that could be a bigger issue. But if you have a habit of insisting on everyone trailing around until you find somewhere you like, that is also a bigger issue.

So I think you did ruin the weekend a bit for your DH by putting your desires ahead of everyone else, and DH may have ruined it a bit for you by sulking. The comment about you being difficult and always making the decisions does make it sound like you are often pushing for something different and the two of you have incompatible tastes on some things. You may need to have a calm discussion about what you both like and work out how to compromise in a way you can both enjoy.

Premier Inn breakfasts aren't all the same. They're often served in and catered by the attached pub/carvery - Travelodge are different and often have a kitchen in the basement/dining room. I've had different experiences across the board e.g. machine juice v jugs of fresh, cooked pancakes to order/buffet pancakes.

Well the plan was PI breakfast (possible quick walk) and home. You seem to have unilaterally changed the plan when everyone was tired and hungry and just wanted to eat and go home.

I have to admit that the only arguments dh and I have are when I’m hungry and he’s looking for the perfect place to eat! I get really angry when hungry and probably would have had a strop if I could have enjoyed an easy breakfast but Ben traipsing around London looking for a cafe. Sorry! Keep me fed and I’m the most calm and laid back person ever! 😎

You said everyone agrees to your plan so why is he now in a huff with you? He sounds like the one who's hard work and he's just turning it round on you. What a big baby. Leave him at home next time!

True.
Although without so much as a slice of toast before a walk and a dither is a bit 😡😁

What do they serve at Premier Inn breakfasts?

Well, it wasn't. PI is quite boring - I like it but it's not interesting/different. I agree with those calling it boring. Kellogs, sliced bread, not premium stuff on the cooked bits. Yet I do like it! But I don't love it and wanted a change. DH could have insisted on having it or could just get a grip once the moment had passed.

We had delicious and MASSIVE pastries - loads of choice, freshly squeezed juice, lovely sourdough toast with real butter and varied toppings and a bow of porridge for dd with honey and nuts. Even dh admitted the coffee was exceptional, didn't stop him moaning though.

Anyway, show was Stranger Things booked ages ago for the person who questioned why we went when been unwell) and that was great.

I think I'm team DH (sorry). Premier Inn breakfasts are fine and offer something for everyone and (as someone who lives here) I wouldn't want to be wandering Shoreditch on a Sunday morning looking for an open cafe with space instead of sitting down in the hotel with coffee and a pastry. It would be a bit different if you were keen to try a particular place. I'd rather eat and get on with my day. But he should have voiced his preferences earlier.

I agree.

We had tea in the room, so no.

Premier inn breakfast is fine if you are using it as an overnight stop a distance from anywhere nicer but really nothing more than quantity of mediocre food and unlimited drinks, Wetherspoons is cheaper and would actually be my preference because I can’t eat much in the morning!

I’d have just had the PI breakfast and then gone out for a walk.

I'm pretty sure the PI breakfast would be middling at best, possibly fairly grim.
Theres nothing wrong with them . The cereal toast, yogurt, pastries and fruit are the same you get anywhere so pretty similar to any other breakfast whether its a nice indy cafe or not. The cooked stuff is ok if you get it when it comes out from the kitchen.

Why pay twice if breakfast is included in your rate?