Birthday meal - who pays?

[Bobbisocks]

I’ve got a big birthday coming up in a few weeks. My main celebration will be a weekend away with close family (grown up kids) which DH and myself are paying for. My actual birthday is the Monday after, so I’m thinking of just marking the day with a low-key meal in a local restaurant with a small group of friends. My question is, as I’ve invited people, would I be expected to pay for the whole thing, or would everyone just pay for their own? As far I’m aware it’s usually the latter, but a quick internet search suggests a mix of opinions as to who should pay. I don’t want any awkwardness!

YABU: you invited people so you cover the bill
YANBU: everyone pays for their own

People on here are weird.
totally normal to have a group of different people at a meal for your birthday.
if there was no common language spoken, that would be awkward!
what you are doing is fine.
each should pay for themselves.

It depends on the wording of the invitation. As long as you make it clear one way or another then either option is ok. Don’t leave any doubt if you want people to pay for themselves.

As long as you make people aware, either way is fine. In my circle, everyone always pays for themselves.

As you've found out, different people expect different things.
As this isn't a 'group' that have a history of going out together, you should have made it clear when you invited them.

Personally, I'd always expect to pay at a pub or restaurant.

Some people have a meal instead of a party and you wouldn’t pay to go to a party.

In our friendship group we all pay for our own but as it's not an established group, I'd just make it clear beforehand!

When I invite people I expect to pay. And that's the norm in my circles. But I wouldn't think it wrong if someone didn't pay.

Definitely everyone pay for themselves and you should have clarified on the invite, really. Maybe announce loudly when the staff come to take orders that you would each like separate bills.

Would be nice if restaurants just did this automatically instead of being weird about joining up bills.