Families are choking on the £100 casual meal out
Discussion
A Telegraph article from a few days ago, I've abbreviated it to fit the title but it read
"Middle-class families are choking on the £100 casual meal out "
Which brings us to a discussion my wife instigated, she hadn't read the article but had been chatting to a colleague at work about our own local restaurants and the prices they were charging now. We're in a "tourist" area, folk from around the globe although local folk aren't particularly well off, most in hospitality, fish farms etc.
A few examples
Starter: Poached egg on toast with black pudding £9.50
Mains: Fish & Chips £18.50
Potato Cakes £18.50Salmon £24
Chicken Supreme £19
Mac cheese £16.
Sea Bass Fillet £22
10oz Sirloin £35
Dessert £8.50
Now I appreciate there's staff to pay, rates, electric etc the additional NI now adds to cost but for 3 adults (me, wife, son) a meal out is getting expensive for the average family.
Even fish and chips carry out is around £11
We've a celebratory meal tonight and having looked at the weather and the cost we've bought 2 good size pieces of Halibut and two Sea Bream fillets. £27. I enjoy the occasion of eating out but tonight we're eating in.
As an aside, there was a programme last night Deborah Meaden at a bakery in Glastonbury. Wife zoomed in on some lovely looking chocolate tray bakes £1.70 Same item up here would be £3.50.
OK, all the above is just a grumble from an old man shouting at clouds but I've had my say.
"Middle-class families are choking on the £100 casual meal out "
Which brings us to a discussion my wife instigated, she hadn't read the article but had been chatting to a colleague at work about our own local restaurants and the prices they were charging now. We're in a "tourist" area, folk from around the globe although local folk aren't particularly well off, most in hospitality, fish farms etc.
A few examples
Starter: Poached egg on toast with black pudding £9.50
Mains: Fish & Chips £18.50
Potato Cakes £18.50Salmon £24
Chicken Supreme £19
Mac cheese £16.
Sea Bass Fillet £22
10oz Sirloin £35
Dessert £8.50
Now I appreciate there's staff to pay, rates, electric etc the additional NI now adds to cost but for 3 adults (me, wife, son) a meal out is getting expensive for the average family.
Even fish and chips carry out is around £11
We've a celebratory meal tonight and having looked at the weather and the cost we've bought 2 good size pieces of Halibut and two Sea Bream fillets. £27. I enjoy the occasion of eating out but tonight we're eating in.
As an aside, there was a programme last night Deborah Meaden at a bakery in Glastonbury. Wife zoomed in on some lovely looking chocolate tray bakes £1.70 Same item up here would be £3.50.
OK, all the above is just a grumble from an old man shouting at clouds but I've had my say.
Edited by Skyedriver on Friday 3rd October 12:56
We're just getting to the point where there's families that will go out for food and families that won't.
Almost certain we haven't bought a family meal that cost more than £100 for 4 of us, ever.
Mainly because it's wasted on the kids so you're just inflating the cost of your own meal while having the ambiance ruined by kids who've had enough after 20 minutes. Not worth it.
Almost certain we haven't bought a family meal that cost more than £100 for 4 of us, ever.
Mainly because it's wasted on the kids so you're just inflating the cost of your own meal while having the ambiance ruined by kids who've had enough after 20 minutes. Not worth it.
Terminator X said:
£10 starter, £20-40 for a main, another £10 for dessert. Throw in a few glasses of wine and it's getting on for £70-£90 a head daan sarf. We have pretty much stopped eating out. Must be grim for these places now.
TX.
It’s very easy to do exactly the same in the far north of England (Carlisle). And I’m talking your utter bog standard ‘gastropub’ actually buys its food in and warms it up.TX.
When I was a kid, we never ate out. Wimpy for a special occasion was the most, never got takeaways. Couldn't afford them (lived in/live in London). It seems as I've gotten older, more and more families would default to cheap takeaway instead of cooking.
Now seems to be leaning back the other way with less able to afford to eat out and needing to cook at home. Does seem to be driven by a general rise in costs of everything related to hospitality and food. Just look at the price of chocolate as one example.
I should say I'm lucky enough now to not have to really worry about the costs of eating out (just the two of us) but I've certainly noticed the cost of meals creep up at even the most basic places. I'd now rather spend twice the amount for a really amazing meal than something bang average, unless it s a takeaway where I don't have to leave my home.
Now seems to be leaning back the other way with less able to afford to eat out and needing to cook at home. Does seem to be driven by a general rise in costs of everything related to hospitality and food. Just look at the price of chocolate as one example.
I should say I'm lucky enough now to not have to really worry about the costs of eating out (just the two of us) but I've certainly noticed the cost of meals creep up at even the most basic places. I'd now rather spend twice the amount for a really amazing meal than something bang average, unless it s a takeaway where I don't have to leave my home.
Chris Type R said:
Googie said:
A trip to Prezzos or similar with my niece and nephew is pushing a £100 these days and that s with soft drinks only..
Tastecard or similar makes brings Prezzo prices closer to where (I think) they should be.Countdown said:
theplayingmantis said:
Cheap though it may be, anywhere that serves 'hunters chicken' let alone has it on a 'specials' board is to be avoided like the plague if you want decent freshly prepared food. Imho
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