Do you eat out alone? ???

Would rather starve than eat alone. Would find even a lonesome up of coffee difficult.

I go into town for the U3A groups and enjoy finding different places to eat i.e a pub, Morrisons, Pig and Whistle. |If I am going to eat out after a class I sometimes ring a friend the night before and suggest we meet up. But I am very happy, after the meal, to use their wifii to catch up on emails, or to read my Kindle, or sort out all mu receipts etc. an people watch. sometimes I talk to people and have a good conversation.

Me too Barmeyoldbat!

Sometimes if I’d been into Manchester to a ‘good’ hairdressers I felt I’d want to round off the treat by going into a bar or pub for a glass of wine on the way home - very nice - and a lovely hairstyle brings its own confidence doesn’t it?

Thank you all so much for joining in this discussion! I’m really enjoying reading all your replies.
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Septimia Thu 12-Sep-19 14:29:32
I've taken myself for coffee alone and felt a bit like a spare buttonhole

That made me giggle!

Barmyoldbat, likewise.

I would even go into a bar or pub on my own, its not a problem.

I have a little Yorkshire terrier....l go to places that accept dogs as many pub /restaurants do and l never feel alone.

I must say I do not have any restrictions on where and when I eat out on my own. I would go to any restaurant, lunch or evening on my own to eat, expect good service and complain if I thought I was ignored.

I'll eat lunch out on my own, and the other evening I was so, so hot on the bus coming home from work that I very nearly got off and went in a pub for a shandy.. only very nearly though.

I do eat out alone. More often coffee, lunch or a drink in cinema bar. It gives one a sense of achievement and if more of us do it more will do it. You can savour your food!

I do think it is difficult in the evening if you are on your own. I would eat in the hotel restaurant if there was one, but having to go out in the evening and find somewhere on my own is something I am not keen on, I think instead I would eat a substantial lunch( though that goes against the grain) and buy in a sandwich or salad to eat in my room. Maybe it is easier abroad, but in the UK life seems to stop around 5,30 and there is nowhere to go , or nowhere I feel comfortable going on my own, which makes for a long evening. Nice cafes seem to shut around 4.30 which is silly.

I have to..... my husband hasn’t been into a cafe/restaurant/ pub for 12 years ! Why bother he says when you, meaning me, can cook at home. Same for holiday ! So if I didn’t walk into these places and eat and drink... I would do nothing at all! I have never felt conspicuous at all walking into anywhere.... your moneys as good as anybody’s..... just do it!

I’ve never minded going to a restaurant on my own, and
people watching.
In fact I’m off to Tenby next week, and have booked myself
into several different restaurants for an early dinner at each one. I don’t have to plan the meals, cook or wash up. Bliss.
It’s one of my pleasures to be able to take a few days away from DH who hates holidays and prefers to stay at home and
“Cat sit”.

I was only about 14 when I first ate out alone. I used to travel up from my boarding school in Reading to The Royal Dental School, then in Leicester Square. When I was 12 and 13 my mother always came took me but at 14 she reckoned I knew the route well and was capable of travelling alone.

After my treatment I went to the local Lyons Corner House, that had a coffee bar on the ground floor and had a fizzy drink and a sandwich for lunch before travelling back to school. I felt soooo sophisticated and absolutely loved it.

I have been completely relaxed about eating out alone ever since. I quite agree with those say 'east west homes best' but when home is several hundred miles away, or even 30 miles away, that isn't always possible.

I have been up to London several times this year to see exhibitions that only interest me - and I have more planned. That inevitably means lunch out - anywhere from a food court at a street market or somewhere more elegant. I actually made it to Pizza Express once!

I would, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, occasionally have popped into a coffee shop if I've been out on my own doing quite a bit of shopping. I don't think I'd do a pub on my own though.

I have no problem with eating alone. However, it's been made very clear that restaurants are not keen on single diners as they take up a whole table which could be serving 2 or 4 people and so generating a greater amount of income. This was explained to me in a very 'nice' way by the owner of a place in St Ives some years ago when I was holidaying alone. Yes - I do that too!

I wouldn’t have a problem eating out alone in the daytime when I went on holiday alone it was definitely the worst part of the holiday I found it boring at the evening meal, breakfast and then lunch out were fine but evening seemed a bit sadder as everyone was in pairs or families
I could never walk into a pub alone that’s a step way too far for me

I'm sure there is another initiative that cafes can take part in, but I can't remember the name.

Perhaps it'll come to me.

I remember being in the queue at a lovely restaurant in Italy and being ignored in favour of people behind me. Not a moment's doubt it was because I was on my own. I had a quiet word with the offender and he soon found me a table. I have absolutely no problem dining alone but I much prefer congenial company to people watching if given the choice.

I have no problem with eating out alone and will do so in a cafe, restaurant or pub quite happily. However, I did go on holiday, alone, last year and stayed in a Tui Gold hotel - and it was a terrible dining experience. Being alone I was always seated in front of a pillar or some other impediment and there were no opportunities to interact with other diners. The usual travel company I go with has a 'social table' so that diners can choose whether they want company or not.

A really good local initiative is the 'Happy to Share' card. I'm often so busy that the opportunity to dine alone is very welcome, but other times eating alone is simply expedient and I would be happy to be sociable; then I put this card on the table and welcome anyone who would prefer not to eat alone to share a table with me.

I have no problem eating alone at lunchtime,but wouldn’t feel happy doing that in the evening.That’s when I long to still have someone to go out with. The only times I eat out in the evening are when with an organised group ,such as U3A.

happy to eat in a coffee shop (or fast food place!) on my own but not a 'proper' restaurant - it's daft but it makes me feel uncomfortable!

I would probably still dislike going into a bar on my own, but at my age I wouldn't worry about ordering a meal on my own in any place that serves food.

In my twenties and thirties I hated having to do so, as I was scared someone would try to pick me up and I had no idea how to deal with that if it happened. It never did, and now of course it is highly unlikely to! If it did, I now have the experience to deal with it too.

Any good restaurant should be willing to serve a woman on her own.

No problem with doing that. I have though seen a recent report of a restaurant where an elderly lady has eaten weekly for a couple of years being told as she was on her own other diners in the queue behind her would be given a table before her. Apparently a lone diner taking up a table means others may not want to wait and restaurant looses customers. Watching out for responses in media.

Gosh!! Why would anyone feel self conscious just having a meal alone? Doesn't everyone?

I've taken myself for coffee alone and felt a bit like a spare buttonhole, although I think I would go by myself for a meal depending on the circumstances.

If you look around in eateries, there are often several people who are clearly on their own so there's not really anything to feel awkward about.