What Time Is Dinner Time?

[Rhona]

Apparently, we eat dinner later than anyone else in the known world (can't you tell we've recently 'discussed' this?) and I'm making a big effort to serve dinner earlier from now on. I really love cooking, and preparing the food, lighting a candle whilst sipping wine etc. and happily string the process out 'cos I enjoy it. However, I'm 'gripping it up' and from now on, we are not going to eat later than *ahem* 9.00 p.m.

It's not just us, I was relieved to learn that our new neighbours are late eaters too which made me feel more normal-ish. We are a bit set in our ways too...

How late do you all eat? What time is dinner time in your house? Anyone else want to help me feel normal (big ask I know)?

[OverWyreGrower]

Anytime between 7 and 9 depending on what's for tea (it's tea, not dinner!!)

I find that before then, I'm not hungry and I can wait until about 8pm for my evening meal, it's Mr OWG who gets home at 6pm and is faint with hunger (apparently)

[pdblake]

Half five usually, as soon as I get in from work.

I remember being brought up by my grandparents, grandad always insisted that tea was on the table at 4pm, on the dot with supper at 8pm

[shirlthegirl43]

I try to feed the troops by 7 - easier when it gets dark earlier for some reason!!

[piskieinboots]

earliest 1730hrs
latest (absolute!) 1900hrs

not very sophisticated am I but in my defence I am an early-to-bed type so 2100hrs would see me having to wake up to cook

[SlugLobber]

Anytime is dinner time for me - basically it's how quickly I can cook and what time I get in! So, anytime from 5-9pm! Most often is about 7pm, I think. That way I can sit down and watch Neighbours with me dinner!

[bobleponge]

I'm with OWG, dinner time is around midday ish, but evening meal time is between 8-9. Its actually got a bit later since living in France where they tend to eat later than us Brits, although your research would indicate different Rhona??

[Flummery]

Usually half five to six. At our advanced age, digestion is not good after 8!

[HeyWayne]

Well, pre-Bean it would be any time from 7 onwards as I would get in at about 17:30, and get cooking. LadyWayne would arrive anytime between 18:45 and 19:15 so it was pointless cooking for earlier.

Now with LadyWayne at home at the moment it may be slightly earlier - it does depend on what she's cooking, and if Bean has gone to bed (anywhere between 18:00 and 20:00). We generally eat after sorting him out.

When LadyWayne goes back to work it'll probably revert back to me cooking - so with that and getting Bean to bed we'll be towards the latter part of the evening.

Interestingly enough we had the dinner/tea conversation just the other day. Ever been to a restaurant/pub and ordered off the tea menu, or been able to order off the dinner menu at lunch. Throw afternoon tea into the mix and you've a whole new ball game.

[bobleponge]

But who were the females that assisted you in the canteen when you ate your school midday meal?

Were they the lunch ladies?

[HeyWayne]

But who were the females that assisted you in the canteen when you ate your school midday meal?

Were they the lunch ladies?

Exactly - but then tea ladies had nothing to do with dinner.

[piskieinboots]

and actually it is supper in the Warren household, breakfast is breakfast, lunch is lunch, dinner is supper, supper is a no-go

[bobleponge]

Scuse my ignorance but whats a tea lady?

[HeyWayne]

Scuse my ignorance but whats a tea lady?

They served something called "char".

[bluemoon]

Well, we eat between 8 and 9. It was earlier when the children were young as I'm a huge believer in the whole family sitting down to meals together. Those of my kids who are still living at home know that meals are home cooked, eaten in the dining-room, sitting at a table, using cutlery correctly, without a TV within sight and mobiles to be left upstairs or turned off. And we will not tolerate anything else even though they complain that their friends eat pizzas in their bedrooms whilst playing on Play Stations.
(Oh and, just to be awkward, we have breakfast, lunch and supper.)
Edit, I see Piskie's beaten me to the last bit.