Eating Out becoming a Luxury?

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121674099#Comment_121674099

Yeah but that's just supply and demand. It's sad for everyone involved in the industry but that's just the market forces at play.

Pre pandemic I went for Friday pints and was probably in the pub 4 times a month for a match or whatever. Half a day drinking or a night out. Now I just don't go to the pub because its too expensive. I'm priced out of the pub market and restaurants along with it.

Apart from a sandwich from tesco or a work lunch or invitation to family event, I'd eat in restaurants once or twice a year now. Its a luxury, a big treat so we treat ourselves a once or twice a year. If lots of other people are doing likewise, then the number of restaurants (and pubs) will fall. But that's just a response to demand.

I'm not happy to see an industry shrink, its also not my job to support an industry in a free market. Its my money and I'll spend it where suits me and my family.

Sultan of Bling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121675419#Comment_121675419

Unfortunately no matter how many year zeros we have, some fools will never learn.

I suppose that's why have year zeros.

Tony EH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121675853#Comment_121675853

Perhaps. But we really need to move away from this kind of bullshit boom and bust faux economics that the west has found itself embroiled in over the last 40 years.

It's always the little guy that gets screwed.

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121674046#Comment_121674046

The Spar near my house constantly has delivery drivers coming and going.

Where we live, it's a short walk to numerous supermarkets.

So not only are they paying Spar prices but a delivery fee on top.

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121674099#Comment_121674099

I guess one benefit is it will help with the labour shortage in hospitality.

Also with regards to the housing crisis, a small recession would be no harm.

I know it's people's livelihoods but there's still plenty of jobs in hospitality.

Anecdotally I know that people are tightening their purse strings since Ukraine war started or summer 2022 maybe.

It's survival of the fittest in hospitality now.

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121675180#Comment_121675180

A small recession might be no harm.

I don't see a big one coming unless WW3 breaks out in the middle east and China invades Taiwan.

Still lots of money in Ireland. I bet the government are throwing money at developers to solve the housing crisis also.

I know lots of people who worked through the recession in things like IT and didn't buy a house until 2012 to 2015.

So those people have loads of disposable income and their property has increased massively in value.

JupiterKid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121674399#Comment_121674399

Not a rant in any way, Ray - I hold a PhD in urban geography and I was merely expressing my informed opinion.

...unlike the opinionated, passive aggressive ranting and snide sniping done by so many others here. 😉👍

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676735#Comment_121676735

Lol.

I didn't think it was a rant either.

I don't think eating out was always a luxury.

People had plenty of money for drink and fags and a takeaway and a taxi home.

It's more cultural.

We always socialised with drink and other countries more with food.

Eating out has never been a luxury or special occasion in Spain or Italy for example.

Idbatterim

I agree peoples disposable income is down. I can afford to eat out, no problem, but so much stuff is now such poor value, in not spending my money on it... had enough of it, save it here and go abroad, get sun and cheap food / drink

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676735#Comment_121676735

You spent over 30 mins mulling over it at 2am. That is a rant

Urban Geography isn't economics even though there are elements but you know nothing about politics and applying policy. Some of have experience you don't but don't go bragging about education

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121673567#Comment_121673567

Have you ever been to the pub quizes on a tuesday or wednesday night around Rathmines/Ranelagh?

They are wedged from 6pm.

Not to mention any major sporting match on the tv still brings the crowds out midweek.

I would also say that with the bad press regarding trouble in town recently(especially the northside) the villages are just a more attractive prospect.

No junkies, beggars, tracksuited scrotes etc, but you still have busy late opening bars.

All the Charlie Chawke pubs around South Dublin are back with their late openings and live bands at weekends now.

Another sign the villages are doing well.

orangerhyme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121676998#Comment_121676998

I agree about Ranelagh and Rathmines.

In general though I think groups of young people meeting up will go to the city center.

I can't compare it to other cities though either.

The inner and older suburbs normally have a lively street like Ranelagh, Rathmines, Phibs, Stonybatter, Blackrock etc but the newer outer suburbs are quite dull.

Like you could travel for miles across the north side suburbs like Raheny, Beaumont, and southside suburbs like Kimmage, Stillorgan etc and find no craic.

Idbatterim

The thing is, in my opinion there was a middle ground, aldi and lidl were way cheaper than alternatives. Then they go full throttle and price match them? Pure greed and opportunism. Id be reluctant giving them business again tbh, I'd be prepared to pay marginally more sticking with the alternatives...

Quitelife

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121672230#Comment_121672230

many don’t spend it on drink either as they just don’t have it .

Some young people are giving whatever money they have and whatever their parents give them to drug dealers sadly .

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121678606#Comment_121678606

Surely youre happy they're stimulating the local economy...

BK5

Tipped up to the local Burger King yesterday evening and got a Whopper meal and a Chicken Royale meal. Regular size, no extra cheese or bacon, regular drink and an absolute tiny portion of chips in a small bag. Plain old regular meals are over €10 now?

These types of fast food places are the furthest from a dining experience out you can get, they are grab and go eating and are targeted in a way towards poorer people. €10 to €12 for a Burger King or a Maccy D's is a ride, or am I wrong?

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680171#Comment_121680171

Yeah you're wrong. It's an established restaurant and a type of dining experience. Grab and go food is a sandwich from a shop like tesco.

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680338#Comment_121680338

Yes, but do you think €10 plus is too dear for what you're getting from these big corporate fast food places?

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680446#Comment_121680446

Maybe. I haven't had a Burger King in a 15 years so I don't have a strong opinion. It's mid price range, right? Sandwich on the go is a fiver, burger King is a tenner, sit down meal is 15 or 20. Sounds about right price ranges. What do you think?

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680171#Comment_121680171

If you like fast food like BK, McDs etc, download their apps. There are always deals.

A whopper and regular fries is €6 on the BK app (no drink) or a Chicken Royal Meal (with drink) is €7.95.

I see McDs are now doing "Saver Meals" for €6/€7 which include burger, fries and drink, so I think they might be feeling a drop in sales too.

KFC has their Mighty Bucket for One on the app for €8.95

You have to be a savvy shopper too.

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680171#Comment_121680171

The most expensive meals in BK in 2023 are now the same price as some pub grub options in rural pubs were in 2020.

That, in my mind, is insane.

The chain takeaways are pulling the absolute piss these days, KFC BK and Supermacs in particular. McDonalds seems to have kept to about 2- 3 quid below the industry average but the service is so bad and the experience so depressing I can't see me ever returning. I'm off all the chain takeaways since before Christmas and I don't miss them a bit- KFC and BK are heading for pub grub status cost wise and McDonald's has been shyte since they got rid of the heaters and started pre cooking the patties and keeping them in the heaters (it dries them out). As for lining the pockets of that McDonagh fella, he wouldn't give you the steam off his piss so I'd sooner not pay 13 quid for a meal where the chips are so bad you're forced to buy a dip to make them edible.

As for chippers, using the app that gives 10% off I can still get a delicious fish chips and meal drink in San Marino chippers for just over a tenner. I was in a Macaris in Dunboyne the other night that was charging 13.90 for a fish meal with drink. 13.90!!! I don't know if they think that because Dunboyne is a rich town in some regards that the locals are better able to afford it, but I never seen prices like it.

As for Romayos, they're the blandest chipper out there and the scabbiest/ most expensive to boot (order a pizza and see if you can count on one hand the amount of a particular topping they give you)

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121658207#Comment_121658207

When they come door knocking remember two things

• every major party- FF FG GR SD SF- voted for the alcohol bill that allows for MUP. In fact an SD TD first dreamed it up about a decade ago. So just remind them, but the opposition canvassers in particular- before Jan 1st 2022 a slab of mainstream beer in Tesco or Dunnes could usually be picked up for about 23- 27 euro. Today a 10 pack costs at least 20 quid (slabs dont seem to exist any more, the sheer price of them would trigger people's memories of how cheap they used to be). If s slab was to be sold today it would cost around the 50 mark, more than double the cost in late 2021.
• every major political party bar Aontu supported the lockdowns that caused this mess. In fact SF, SD and the PBP at various stages called for even more extreme measures than the already harmful and outlandish ones that were then in place. Indeed if SD or the PBP were part of government some form of lockdown would have extended throughout the rest of 2022- it isn't beyond the realm of possibility that with either of those two clown parties in power we would still be under some form of Covid restrictions (Paul Murphy still masks in the Dail which speaks of his own view on whether we should have lifted them)

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121671429#Comment_121671429

I find it quite depressing and sad that young people no longer have an interest in four day sessions. Ireland had a baby boom in the 2000s so by right the pub and club scene should be even more heaving than it was when we were out caning it in the 90s 2000s and 2010s yet the evidence of decline is everywhere. The pubs are half empty, the nightclubs are disappearing, it's a tragic state of affairs really.

I can honestly see, due to various factors, the nightclub dying out by 2040, the local boozer by about 2070, chippers and chinese by 2050.

The young are letting it happen on their watch.

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680505#Comment_121680505

I've never forgiven BK for getting rid of the gorgeous crispy chips they used to have for the dry rubbish they have now.

Wanderer78

typical kfc meal deal in iceland coming in at about 15 euro, so......

Ezeoul

https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/food-drink-news/customers-devastated-beloved-dublin-restaurant-28515921

Another closure.

Tolteca Baggot Street was very popular with my workmates for lunch.

They did a very good burrito.

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680657#Comment_121680657

We badly need Taco Bell and Wendy's here tbh. I don't know how Boojum is so successful (plus they refuse cash. I'd love to see them go down the pan)

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680770#Comment_121680770

....so you d like to see a load of people lose their jobs!

Cheddar Bob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121680784#Comment_121680784

They'd have another one in food service in 10 minutes in the current market.

Nobody's mortgage is exactly depending on this place.

JupiterKid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121678606#Comment_121678606

The notion that the younger generation are spending their money on drugs instead of drink is a biased and ageist fallacy.

Some are for sure, but most aren't. My generation (born mid 1970s, Generation X) spent plenty on illegal drugs AND booze back in the day - and many of them are still spending plenty on cocaine these days going from some of my friends.

In any case alcohol is probably the most dangerous drug out there in terms of its destructive effects - we have just been deeply culturally conditioned to accept drink as an acceptable outlet.

Ergo, publicans and off-licences are in essence drug dealers - albeit legal ones - themselves.