Going out Solo

Narj

Narj

Narj

Soldato
Joined
19 Feb 2010
Posts
13,254
Location
London
Anyone else doing this more nowadays?

I'm really enjoying it to be honest. Nice restaurant, nice food, a few glasses of wine/herbal tea or whatever takes your fancy etc :)

I just take a book with me to read between courses.

I was told by the guv’nor of one establishment that he is seeing this more with both women and men. Maybe a sign of the times but I think it's a good thing that it's acceptable to treat yourself to something nice.

In before YOU ARE INCEL. x x x
 
Last edited:
Narj said:
Nice restaurant, nice food, a few glasses of wine
Click to expand...
I spend a lot of my free time at gigs, most of them I roll solo.
It's a good time, meet many strange and fantastic people.

It's proper weird when you end up chatting to someone who was at a previous gig and it turns out they have a pic of you in the crowd on their phone.
 
EvilRob said:
Early in my career I travelled for work most weeks, so I got used to this quickly. Totally happy to chill by myself in a restaurant, I find it very relaxing and enjoyable with either a book or something to watch on my phone. Doesn't happen too often these days, though.
Click to expand...
Yeah when I was travelling around SE Asia and Australia for work on my own I never thought twice about dining alone, but for some reason there is a stigma over here about it. Sometimes I get odd looks in the UK and some equally odd conversations - I just find it annoying that I have to counter things that people say to me.

It's like you're some sort of leper. Staff always look after you once you're a regular and tip well though :)
 
Last edited:
Narj said:
Yeah when I was travelling around SE Asia and Australia for work on my own I never thought twice about dining alone, but for some reason there is a stigma over here about it. Sometimes I get odd looks in the UK and some equally odd conversations - I just find it annoying that I have to counter things that people say to me.

It's like you're some sort of leper. Staff always look after you once you're a regular and tip well though :)
Click to expand...
I've not noticed that reaction. There must be plenty of business travellers in the UK, too, and they have to eat! Although I did notice my English colleagues were more disposed to just getting room service.
 
When I used to travel for work in the UK I spent most weeknights in whatever restaurant was attached to the Premier Inn I was staying at that week.

It was the same when I travelled worldwide except by then I was on a Per Diem system so I wasn't tied to a single restaurant choice which was a welcome change because it meant if I didn't want to have a sit down meal I didn't have to have one.

Never really bothered me tbh.
 
I love going out or to the pub by myself, I find it really relaxing having your own agenda and freedom to do whatever you want. Plus, if you’re not comfortable in your own company then why should anyone else be?
 
Used to do it all the time when I was doing consultancy work and staying away on expenses.

If I was single I would happily do it still, especially with the proliferation of casual dining places, totally normal now. I go to the cinema on my own on the rare occasions I do go.
 
Narj said:
Anyone else doing this more nowadays?

I'm really enjoying it to be honest. Nice restaurant, nice food, a few glasses of wine/herbal tea or whatever takes your fancy etc :)

I just take a book with me to read between courses.

I was told by the guv’nor of one establishment that he is seeing this more with both women and men. Maybe a sign of the times but I think it's a good thing that it's acceptable to treat yourself to something nice.

In before YOU ARE INCEL. x x x
Click to expand...
What you say a book do you mean a physical book or ebook on your phone?


I don't know why but I feel odd about the idea of reading a book in public.

It almost feels performative.

(Yet before phones i never thought this way)
 
Like others, I’ve had to do it for work when travelling. It’s fine but does feel a little awkward unless you’re dining at a hotel.

I wouldn’t do it of my own free will though. The whole point of going out for a nice meal, for me, is that company. The food and drink is just a backdrop to socialising.

I do go to the cinema more alone these days though and I’ve considered going to the theatre alone.
 
I’ve been to the cinema by myself and when I used to work in the centre going out to a restaurant by myself was no biggie.

But I don’t know if I’d go ‘out out’ on my ones
 
I haven't done it recently, but I used to travel for my job so did it semi-frequently.

As you say, take a book along, read between chapters and enjoy the atmosphere.

With wife and kids at home now the opportunity to eat alone is few and far between but I wouldn't hesitate if they were all away for a period of time and I was on my own.
 
Tefal said:
What you say a book do you mean a physical book or ebook on your phone?


I don't know why but I feel odd about the idea of reading a book in public.

It almost feels performative.

(Yet before phones i never thought this way)
Click to expand...
I sat in Wetherspoons in Belfast for over half a day reading a book and drinking a few pints of Guinness. I was waiting for some friends to arrive who were flying in from a different airport.

Nobody gave me a second glance. That was the day I also got a polymer NI fiver with a space shuttle on it, I've still got that somewhere!
 
Tefal said:
What you say a book do you mean a physical book or ebook on your phone?


I don't know why but I feel odd about the idea of reading a book in public.

It almost feels performative.

(Yet before phones i never thought this way)
Click to expand...
Proper book. I’ve been tempted to get a kindle though. I tend to just stick it in my lap so it looks like I’m admiring my willy rather than going, “Look! I’m reading!” - far less weird. ;)

I find it a bit depressing that it’s normal for everyone to be buried in their phones now tbh.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got regular groups of friends that I go out with but since I’ve started having short breaks away on my own I’ve started to feel more comfortable with this.
 
Last edited:
Narj said:
Proper book. I’ve been tempted to get a kindle though. I tend to just stick it in my lap so it looks like I’m admiring my willy rather than going, “Look! I’m reading!” - far less weird. ;)

I find it a bit depressing that it’s normal for everyone to be buried in their phones now tbh.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got regular groups of friends that I go out with but since I’ve started having short breaks away on my own I’ve started to feel more comfortable with this.
Click to expand...
No I get it I've done work away and it's nice to get out as when away it's easy to fall into work bnb work routine.

I end up often doing mcdonalds etc rather than a nice place though due to feeling uncomfortable despite actualy wanting the nice place
 
Narj said:
Anyone else doing this more nowadays?

I'm really enjoying it to be honest. Nice restaurant, nice food, a few glasses of wine/herbal tea or whatever takes your fancy etc :)

I just take a book with me to read between courses.

I was told by the guv’nor of one establishment that he is seeing this more with both women and men. Maybe a sign of the times but I think it's a good thing that it's acceptable to treat yourself to something nice.

In before YOU ARE INCEL. x x x
Click to expand...

Yes. I do quite a lot Solo.
My partner can't do as much as me physically and emotionally so I end up doing a lot on my own.

Really enjoyed my holiday to Norway. I went solo with a group. But when everyone was going home I went to a restaurant on my own and it was nice.

I guess circumstances have made it more common for me. Luckily I'm quite content on my own (especially outdoors).

Also. Fed up of "friends" letting me down doing stuff. So if I didn't do stuff on my own I wouldn't end up doing it.

I'll also be going to Greenland on my own (with a random group). With no one to go with.. Its either go alone.. Or miss out.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom