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Original poster

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:
FAQs · 10/07/2021 15:50

Maybe it’s organic, hand fed, rare breed and smoked for a 1000 years pork, cos that’ll push the £ up Grin

safariboot · 10/07/2021 15:55

YANBU.

This tells me management is completely out of touch. Both from the cuisine and the cost.

In fact it wouldn't surprise me if they chose a hog roast to deliberately discriminate against the Muslim, Jewish, or even vegetarian staff. You could never prove it but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

My company goes to a restaurant with a wide range of food. And the company pays, but if it didn't, no way would it be £65 each. Because the owners want somewhere everyone can enjoy.

Nohomemadecandles · 10/07/2021 15:57

@safariboot

YANBU.

This tells me management is completely out of touch. Both from the cuisine and the cost.

In fact it wouldn't surprise me if they chose a hog roast to deliberately discriminate against the Muslim, Jewish, or even vegetarian staff. You could never prove it but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

My company goes to a restaurant with a wide range of food. And the company pays, but if it didn't, no way would it be £65 each. Because the owners want somewhere everyone can enjoy.

What the fuck?? You don't even know who they are!! How could it "not surprise you"?

Honestly.

EastWestWhosBest · 10/07/2021 15:57

Unless you're the one being slaughtered. Both fairly evenly beastly.

Well yes. But there is this idea that Halal means all sorts of other stuff has gone on as well, which simply isn’t true.

Cavalierqueen · 10/07/2021 15:58

Our tedious but culturally sensitive meal is paid for and everyone gets a gift, depending on your performance, a Rolex down. I am sure nobody actually wants to attend these meals so if there was a release, I know I would which is why I keep my teams low key. We get paid the big bucks to suffer corporate hospitality but they don't have to

Nocutenamesleft · 10/07/2021 16:00

@FlyingBattie

I have to say. Goats cheese is one of my all time favourite foods. Love a goat cheese salad. Oh man. Mouths watering at the thought

I might be just a bit weird though. Lols

Chocoqueen · 10/07/2021 16:00

@JustWonderingIfYou

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.

Eh? I work in Central London and have never paid anywhere near £65 for a 3 course Christmas meal....
Cavalierqueen · 10/07/2021 16:02

Sorry wasn't insulting Halal, I used to live near the worst slaughterhouse in the UK and it was mindless cruelty. Here for me, the killing of animals is abhorrent to me and I doubt it's much better, what I think is if we stopped mass killing and followed the teaching of the prophet (pbuh) it would be OK for others but still not to me.

Nocutenamesleft · 10/07/2021 16:02

The people saying it’s discrimination

How can it be discrimination for a voluntary dinner? I could understand it if you had no choice as in. For work you NUST go to this

But honest question. How is it for a voluntary meal?

CastawayQueen · 10/07/2021 16:03

@LongLiveGoblingKing

There is a guy on our team who only eats meat and two veg, so he declines to come to work events where he won't eat the food. Simple.

I'd be very put-out if his preference was catered for every time. I hate paying for food I can make at home.

KFC? I don't think!

OP's managers are being U but so is OP's reason for not going. People who 'can but won't' eat something are the bane of every function. You're not a child, suck it up FGS. Of course if you pay for your own meal it should be based on what you ordered - just get a cheap starter or similar...
MitzyMooo · 10/07/2021 16:03

I very much doubt that Pork will be the only option, they will have a Christmas Menu for everyone.

CommanderBurnham · 10/07/2021 16:03

If you have to pay then you get a say.

Just organise your own with some others in the team.

Figgygal · 10/07/2021 16:04

In one way I think bloody hell they’re trying to do something nice for people and give people an experience however to pick somewhere that some people can’t go to because of religious beliefs is really foolish

However I’ve never been anywhere that you’ve been given an option as to where you go so I think your expectations on that are completely off.

MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 16:05

Nocutenamesleft they've deliberately chosen a menu that excludes them

EastWestWhosBest · 10/07/2021 16:15

@Cavalierqueen

Sorry wasn't insulting Halal, I used to live near the worst slaughterhouse in the UK and it was mindless cruelty. Here for me, the killing of animals is abhorrent to me and I doubt it's much better, what I think is if we stopped mass killing and followed the teaching of the prophet (pbuh) it would be OK for others but still not to me.
I’ve been vegetarian for 25 years, I don’t agree with killing animals for food.

However there is a lot of racist misinformation about what Halal is and consists of aside from the basic of animal slaughter.

safariboot · 10/07/2021 16:17

How could it "not surprise you"?

Because I know the reality that both religious discrimination and anti-vegetarian/vegan sentiment are still very common in Britain.

How is it for a voluntary meal?

Because I also know it's all too common that attendance at 'voluntary' events is expected and people who don't go are seen as not team players and so on.

Nocutenamesleft · 10/07/2021 16:24

@MouldyPotato

Nocutenamesleft they've deliberately chosen a menu that excludes them
But you don’t have to go?
ItsVousNotMoi · 10/07/2021 16:26

Where is this place that sells only pork? Hmm

KindChick · 10/07/2021 16:29

I find this difficult to believe to be honest. Every restaurant/hotel/venue aims to attract the Christmas party trade. All do different options to cater for different tastes and needs. I totally get them just saying we have booked xx place and would expect there to be choices on the menu.

EverNapping · 10/07/2021 16:33

@Nocutenamesleft

The people saying it’s discrimination

How can it be discrimination for a voluntary dinner? I could understand it if you had no choice as in. For work you NUST go to this

But honest question. How is it for a voluntary meal?

You've not done any courses on discrimination (indirect & direct) under the Equality Act 2010 I take it.

Arranging work outings that do not take in to account religious beliefs is kind of textbook.

OverTheRubicon · 10/07/2021 16:33

@Marchitectmummy

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.
Exactly this. These days pretty much everywhere will do vegan too.
MouldyPotato · 10/07/2021 16:34

But you don’t have to go? yes but they have arranged something people will 100% not go to due to religious beliefs. They could have chosen anywhere.

Nohomemadecandles · 10/07/2021 16:37

Let's be honest, it's gone from hugely pretentious, overpriced and very niche kind of cordon-bleu type of place. All fussy food and centered around pork products. to a place that mass caters hog roasts at Christmas every year and also does cheese fondue (raclette maybe?) So the majority of this is nonsense anyway!
The OP wanted KFC or Harvester

Pinuporc · 10/07/2021 16:39

I would feel aggrieved if a christmas meal was KFC.
I've worked with a couple of people with very limited tastes but weve always managed to go somewhere a lot nicer than kfc and they found something to eat.

Changechangychange · 10/07/2021 16:44

The only place I can think of that remotely fits your description is Bodeans, and maybe you think it is posh because it’s in Soho? (It’s not posh).

It is quite expensive for what it is, and it reeks of pork so no way would I eat in there as a vegetarian, but they do have a few chicken and veggie options on their menu.

bodeansbbq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Tower-Hill-Soho-Covent-Garden.pdf