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Christmas party venue - inconsiderate choice.. AIBU not to go?

139 replies

gailsnails · 10/07/2021 13:55

I work on a team about about 20 people, with with different tastes, diets, food restrictions, views on alcohol etc.
For our Christmas meal (my first in the company, as I'm quite new this year), the senior management simply told us when the meal will be held, rather than canvas our thoughts, put it to a vote (the fairest way to decide I would have thought?) or discuss with staff.
The picked a hugely pretentious, overpriced and very niche kind of cordon-bleu type of place. All fussy food and centered around pork products.
There are 3 people on the team who have declined to go as don't eat pork (2 Muslim and 1 Jewish) and little other viable options on the extremely limited menu. I declined simply because I only like plain, bland and "boring" food... like chicken and chips or something non-fancy/pretentious sounding.
£65 per head for the meal, seems ridiculous when you've not even had any say in where to go. What's wrong with just going for a pizza or KFC lol? Or a buffet type place that caters something for even the most awkward people?
Any one else have this situation at work nights out?
I just find it rude, and totally inconsiderate.

OP posts:
happytoday73 · 10/07/2021 13:56

It's impossible to meet everybodys requirements so I get why they didn't ask... But that's a really bad choice!

CrouchEndTiger12 · 10/07/2021 13:57

Decline and go to KFC or some other crpa fast food them.. enjoy your bland food or greasy takeaway.

MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 14:01

Seems odd to choose somewhere that does only pork if they know there are Muslims and Jews who work for them who might want to join in the Christmas meal. Surely that's opening themselves up for a discrimination claim?

Also is there no alternative menu? Pork is an odd choice for Christmas meals.

BarryTheKestrel · 10/07/2021 14:01

I get not asking as every one wants something different and you just can't please everyone. However, that is a shocking choice given the demographic they are booking for.

MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 14:01

I also get it makes sense for them to just choose somewhere but they chose the wrong place if they want to be inclusive.

PRabbit · 10/07/2021 14:03

People are selfish and just pick what they like with no consideration for others. They should be more inclusive and pick somewhere that can cater for beliefs and allergies.

BarbaraPapa · 10/07/2021 14:03

Also pretty miserable for vegetarians or people (like me) who don't eat pork for general pig welfare reasons.

JustWonderingIfYou · 10/07/2021 14:04

I would find it rude to be taken for a Christmas party at kfc!

I think the party sounds better without you tbh. £65 is pretty standard at Christmas, hardly Michelin prices.

Nohomemadecandles · 10/07/2021 14:05

I think there's a lot wrong with expecting your Christmas party to be at KFC Confused

The pork restaurant is also a poor choice.

I'm pretty sure there's a happy medium between just KFC or just £65 pork though

StormcloakNord · 10/07/2021 14:06

Restaurant centred around pork is a bad idea.

YABU though for only liking "plain" beige food... you sound like a hoot.

£65 also pretty standard for a Christmas meal

MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 14:06

Has anyone mentioned the discrimination to them?

IwasntGoingToBeThatMum · 10/07/2021 14:09

@JustWonderingIfYou no... The standard price is half that Hmm

VodselForDinner · 10/07/2021 14:10

Trying to figure out what kind of restaurant serves so pork pork to the extent that a Jewish or Muslim person would have to decline because alternatives are so limited?

YABU to want your company’s Christmas night out to be KFC.

Suprima · 10/07/2021 14:11

Don’t go- enjoy your bland takeaway at home.

And I say that as someone who loves a £3 kebab as much as ‘nice’ food. £65 quid is standard for Xmas party- I imagine there will be 3 courses and wine.

There will be a definitely be a vegetarian option for non meat eaters and I seriously doubt all of the menu is pork, so I completely disregard what you’re saying about this porky menu.

EastWestWhosBest · 10/07/2021 14:12

I never go to my work Christmas do because the vegetarian option is always crappy.

BillyRaywasapreachersson · 10/07/2021 14:16

Is this a hog roast type place? If so, very discriminatory.
However, if you are ever the boss, don't take your team to KFC.

Doghead · 10/07/2021 14:26

@MouldyPotato

Has anyone mentioned the discrimination to them?
I really don't think there is any discrimination....it really sounds like the OP is over dramatising.
FlyingBattie · 10/07/2021 14:26

KFC?!

Everywhere I have ever been for a Christmas meal has a choice of turkey or a vegetarian option.
Could it be that the place possibly is not halal/kosher in general, if other options are so limited?
I find Christmas meals in general always happen at wanky kind of places, though. You just have to suck it up once a year.

FlyingBattie · 10/07/2021 14:27

@EastWestWhosBest

I never go to my work Christmas do because the vegetarian option is always crappy.
Why is it always goats cheese tart? I don't know anybody who likes goats cheese!
FlyingBattie · 10/07/2021 14:28

@VodselForDinner

Trying to figure out what kind of restaurant serves so pork pork to the extent that a Jewish or Muslim person would have to decline because alternatives are so limited?

YABU to want your company’s Christmas night out to be KFC.

Jewish dietary laws are a lot more complex, and depending on how strict they are, if the kitchen is not kosher, they can't eat anything prepared in it. Some very strict muslims may not be happy with a kitchen that prepares pork either. I'm not saying this is definitely the case.
DeciduousPerennial · 10/07/2021 14:31

Pizza or kfc for the Christmas do?! Oh, come on, you know that’s taking the piss.

The pork thing isn’t on, they should have clocked that.

But you can’t ask everyone for preferences on dates, types of restaurants - it never bloody gets booked. Go or don’t. That’s your choice.

Ifitquacks · 10/07/2021 14:32

Does it really only sell pork products? If so that’s quite bizarre and not like anywhere I’ve encountered.
Sadly I think you have to accept that if you only like bland, chicken and chip type food then you will often be ‘left out’ of events like this, because not many adults are going to want to go for bland, fast food type places for a Christmas treat (or indeed for any ‘event’ meal). I’d certainly be declining a KFC/pizza hut kind of Christmas meal.

HeddaGarbled · 10/07/2021 14:35

senior management simply told us when the meal will be held, rather than canvas our thoughts, put it to a vote (the fairest way to decide I would have thought?) or discuss with staff

Having worked for drippy managers who tried to get this sort of consensus, my experience is that it resulted in months of arguments and complaints and factions. I yearned for a decisive manager who would just get it organised without all the nonsense.

If you don’t want to go, don’t go. You’re new. Concentrate on your job and don’t get involved in silly arguments about the Christmas social event.

Marchitectmummy · 10/07/2021 14:38

In the UK a restaurant centred around pork, sorry I don't buy it, if you had said chicken yep can see thst buy pork isn't even a popular meat. I can't think of ant restaurant without a vegetarian option.

HappyMeal654 · 10/07/2021 14:38

@BillyRaywasapreachersson

Is this a hog roast type place? If so, very discriminatory. However, if you are ever the boss, don't take your team to KFC.
This made me lol Grin
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