Christmas Day Lunch

[Tilly2]

Our local Wetherspoons is doing a four course Christmas Day lunch for £24.99. My husband thinks it's a good idea to go there 'to save me the stress of cooking for six people.' Actually, there's more to it than that. It's the stress of having certain people in my home for a whole day. (Arrrgh!)

In the past, when we were both working, we all went to a posh local pub/restaurant which charged £60.00 per head and we paid for everyone. We can't afford that any more and our relatives cannot afford to pay for themselves.
It just seems like a bit of a come down to me. Has anyone been to a Wetherspoons for Christmas Day?

[B00]

Why are you putting up with and paying for people's lunch who you don't even like?

Tell them all you're staying at home this year and having a quiet one- then spend the day having bacon butties in bed.

[magsmay]

you will be paying £125 for the meals then drinks -you can buy a lot of Xmas food to make your own for that -I think it will be generic flat turkey and warmed up veg -bite the bullet and make it yourself . Its only one day it will be over befoe you know it x

[Tilly2]

Just trying to keep the peace, Boo. You know how it is with families.

[tiggerblue10]

Why did you pay £60 for everyone Tilly? I'd do what B00 says and stay at home and eat whatever you want. If you want to have a turkey dinner, just get a small one.

[B00]

I'm obviously more hard faced than you Tilly, as I'd refuse to spend the day with folk im not keen on, even for one day.

But good luck to you, but Mags's post makes a lot of sense.

[Tizzi24]

I haven't been there for lunch, but at that price, you can't go far wrong! Years ago, I paid £50 for Xmas lunch. Why don't you go there before then for a meal and see what it's like?

[Tilly2]

I know that I could do an amazing lunch with £125.00 but it's not an option that will keep everybody happy. Going out means that we only have to spend a couple of hour with ............
We can have a lovely lunch at home on Boxing Day.
I've not eaten in a Wetherspoons and would just like to know if it's going to be edible.

[China Doll]

I just wouldn't invite anyone over for christmas if I felt that way, and enjoy christmas with the person/people I do want to spend it with. I wouldn't have people taht stressed me in my home on any day let alone christmas day and I certainly wouldn't be paying for the privilidge of their company! Family or no family, keeping the peace is not enough of a reason for me to feel uncomfortable in my own home or at christmas celebrations, that's just madness.

[tenrec]

What makes or breaks Christmas day is the people who are there, not the food you have. (IMO)

[Kiki-frog]

I've not had Christmas lunch at Weatherspoons, but I've been there to eat and the food has been fine, and they have a good range of wines and beers. You've not said who these rellies are, but hopefully you could ask them to chip in with the cost.

We're going out to lunch with MiL and probably bro-in-law and his girlfriend on Xmas Day. It's just so much less hassle and allows us more time to relax and enjoy ourselves rather than faffing around with cooking. I'm doing mince pies, choccy yule log and various cold meats, pates and salads to have at home, and that's it.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, kiki. I might try wetherspoons for a meal beforehand, although I think we need to book fairly quickly for the Christmas Day lunch.

Going into town later. Might give it a go.

[tiggerblue10]

I went to a Wetherspoons last year with my work colleagues for Xmas lunch and they ran out of roast turkey and we ended up having round turkey slices like the Bernard Matthews stuff.

[Tilly2]

Oh, flippin 'eck, tigger! How horrible.

[owdhamer]

Go for it.

[Tilly2]

You reckon it will be o.k. then. owdhammer?
Do you eat in Wetherspoons?

[tiggerblue10]

It was pretty grim Tilly but you can always ask them about it. When we went it was about 2 or 3 weeks before Xmas as it was a works do. I'd imagine they'd be a lot more prepared for Xmas day.

[Tilly2]

Yes, you've got to order the food choices when you book. So, they might have enough turkey.

[hc4361]

I have eaten at Wetherspoons and find the service dreadful - there is never enough staff.
The food all comes out of a microwave - try asking for something without the sauce and they can't do it.

It is an okay option for a budget meal when you are out and about but I wouldn't dream of going there for a Christmas meal, especially on Christmas Day itself.

[puzzled54]

I think its a really nice idea of Mr T to suggest it. We often eat in Wetherspoons when we are away and its fine. Would imagine the xmas lunch is a turkey version of the sunday roast meal. Atmosphere may not be the same as a posh hotel, but its not McDonalds!

[smurfchops]

Tilly, tell everyone you're going away for Christmas. Keep the curtains closed for a week and the telly turned down low and enjoy! Seriously, if both of you don't like the people you're meant to be with, why on earth do you do it? Just say you're having a quiet day on your own, or even that you've been invited to some else's house for the day (fictional of course, say someone from work) and that will break the habit of people expecting to come to you every year. After a couple of years of excuses they might take the hint and who knows, pigs might fly but someone else might even ask you over to their's as youve been doing it for so long.