Xmas party. How much?.

elisebutt65 · 3 October 2015 at 8:08PM

Just had an email from a colleague about our Xmas party. The venue is charging £39.50!!!
I had to reply, gently declining and counter offering with another venue that is really nice, for only (only!) 25 for 3 courses & prosecco.

Some places aren't charging much more than that for Xmas Day, and that's nearly a week's shopping budget for me.

I think the difference is that I (along with others) have families and the 2 women doing the research are Dinkies. But really? Would you pat that much for a works do?

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BigAunty · 3 October 2015 at 8:19PM

It's a shame they didn't consult before they booked but I don't think that kind of figure is terrible - do you work part time or are you on NMW or do you have big financial commitments?

Our team has a person (a single person without dependents on a low public sector wage) who volunteered to look into a Xmas meal. He then emailed the team with various options from around £20 to £35 with copies of the menu.

The team then voted and I think went for the higher end of the options just because the venue and menu impressed them. Out of a team of around 20, I think around a quarter or a third are Dinkies, it's mainly young single people, often living on their own in rental accommodation.

Countering with another venue, if they've made a reservation, is a waste of time. How far are they along in the booking process? However, if you and your other colleagues are no-shows then I guess it gives them food for thought for the next time.

elisebutt65 · 3 October 2015 at 8:23PM

They haven't booked it yet. And yes, I along with others in the team, work part time. I'm possibly feeling put out anyway as it's usually my 'job' to sort Xmas out & I usually do the emailing out with 3 menus etc.
I guess I'm feeling sidelined since I went part time this year, but also I can't afford £40 + drinks and transport.

sooty&sweep · 3 October 2015 at 8:23PM

Hi
Depends what you are getting.
I've been to some horrid cheap xmas do's & personally I'd prefer to spend abit more to get something decent.
Jen

elisebutt65 · 3 October 2015 at 8:32PM

Well the menus are about the same, only I've been to the one I quoted before and it's really good. Even went there for Xmas day when I was on chemo & it was lovely.
The expensive place is an unknown though as its only just opened.

bluesparkles · 3 October 2015 at 8:33PM

Ive paid more and Ive paid less. These days Id probably prefer to pay less as its been my experience that you get more or less the same meal you'd get all year round plus another 15 quid or so on top and that many places start putting their prices up as soon as it gets to 1st Dec.

In saying that there's a company around 15 miles from me who do a three course meal plus entertainment in December for around 25 quid and it can be less on off peak nights such as Sundays.

BigAunty · 3 October 2015 at 8:42PM

bluesparkles wrote: »

Ive paid more and Ive paid less. These days Id probably prefer to pay less as its been my experience that you get more or less the same meal you'd get all year round plus another 15 quid or so on top .

As a vegetarian, I just knew that the options would be unappealing and unimaginative.

Even before I received copies of them, I just knew they'd probably offer a risotto or goats cheese tart at best. And what do you know - four menus emailed out with a solitary sad vegetarian option of a risotto or goats cheese tart.

I have no idea why these options are seen as luxury dining options on menus - very tired dishes indeed. These are the staples of many restaurants as vegetarian options all year round (alongside vegetable lasagne or neopolitan pasta).

I'm bloody sick of them. M & S often trot out risotto or goats cheese tart or a tomato based pasta dish as their special £10 dine-in meal, too.

So that's my rant over - being presented with a 'special' xmas menu that actually offers the most common vegetarian dishes served all year round by most restaurants.

bossymoo · 3 October 2015 at 8:46PM

What's a dinkie?

I'm guessing the "nk" is no kids?

bluesparkles · 3 October 2015 at 8:49PM

Double income no kids. Havent heard that one in a long time.

bossymoo · 3 October 2015 at 8:53PM

Ah, gotcha, so less "budget conscious"

I think I'm lucky our employer has a budget that covers a xmas meal and usually enough left for a few drinks. I think we tend to go about £30 a head but it depends how late you leave it to book...

bluesparkles · 3 October 2015 at 8:56PM

To be honest with you, I wouldnt assume that the double income no kids have plenty of cash. You dont know what their outgoings are.

If you know there's going to be a Christmas night out, my advice would be to put money aside for it, even if its a quid a week from the beginning of the year.

I have no idea where my works Christmas night out will be this year (only been with the company a few months), but if its too expensive, I'll politely decline. Im not a dinkie by the way, Im single.

Xmas party. How much?.

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