Christmas pub or home buffet

[vampiress88]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

If you go to the pub will you be paying for everyone? Or will the adults be paying for themselves?
Is the pub/buffet on Christmas day or on the run up?

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We would be paying. It’s £14 per person then drinks.
It’s the run up to Christmas. I wasn’t paying £40pp on Christmas Day

[Donz1979]

Depends if you want all the cleaning up to do after aswell.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by vampiress88

We would be paying. It’s £14 per person then drinks.
It’s the run up to Christmas. I wasn’t paying £40pp on Christmas Day

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I would take a couple of points into consideration.
If you go out for a meal the time frame is pretty fixed. Probably a couple of hours. If you do it at home you could have them there for a long time, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.
If you go to the pub there is no mess for you, no stress, zero preparation.
If you do a buffet its easy to get carried away with food and you can soon spend a small fortune, you have to prepare everything and clean up afterwards.

For my husbands 50th the other week I took his family out for a surprise meal, the only way to get them all there was to pay 🙈
It cost me around £300 but I said any further alcohol etc must be paid for themselves 👍🏻
It was stress free and worth it for me.

[Sandra & co]

Go out ive done many buffets and it’s so stressful, after Christmas Day you want to chill but your up doing it all again.I want to find a pub where the dog can come too!

[vampiress88]

Originally Posted by Sandra & co

Go out ive done many buffets and it’s so stressful, after Christmas Day you want to chill but your up doing it all again.I want to find a pub where the dog can come too!

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This would be for Christmas Eve. I’m working Boxing Day and the Monday Tuesday

[MarkUK]

Definitely at home. Wouldn’t like to be around strangers as it would devalue the day for me.

[cornishfrogboy]

I would only ever have Christmas festivities and food at home (or someone else’s home).
I actually enjoy cooking Christmas dinner also, although I do cheat by using foil trays throughout in order to minimise washing up.

[Scotsmomma2]

2 kids and a baby🤔 home and an M&S buffet definitely.Disposable Christmas plates and you'll have minimal clearing up.

[Lindaelaine]

Most definitely pub buffet for me with it being Christmas Eve. Even though it's a buffet you would still be busy "tending" to everything and not be able to enjoy as much family time like you would if it was laid on for you.
I think it would be worth every penny to be able to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

[DisneyDaffodil]

There are pros and cons of each. If you opt for the meal out, there’s no cleaning up or preparation so it’s easier. However, will the children be happy eating out or will they play up? That could make it stressful for you. Plus it’s expensive and impersonal

The buffet at home will need prep and will leave mess. Although this can be minimised by buying most of it at M&S and if you really want to make something yourself, you could just do the sandwiches or make one item that you feel comfortable making otherwise it could be all shop bought. You could also find people may stay longer if it’s at home, which could be tiresome for you and the children (then again it could be great fun, playing board games and chatting)

I think it’s a case of considering all the pros and cons and thinking of yourself, the children and the guests and working out which would be the most enjoyable option for you all.