What Makes Manchester Dads Grumpy?

What do Kim Kardashian, Strictly Come Dancing and East Enders have in common? They’re among the top 50 things which make Manchester dads grumpy, according to a new survey.

Lights left on in empty rooms, heating on too high, dance music and being treated like a taxi service also featured on the chart of cantankerousness commissioned by Merlin Annual Pass.

One in ten dads in Manchester admit they are ALWAYS cranky while another 74 per cent reckon they are becoming more so as they get older.

And it’s not the privilege of old men. According to the survey, dads are at their grumpiest at the age of 40.

The survey of fathers in Manchester also found that people leaving the lights on is most likely to make them grumble, followed by bad manners, heavy traffic, cold callers in the evening and bad drivers.

The front or back door being left open, their football team losing, the kids arguing, work interrupting family time and reality TV shows completed the top ten.

The average dad admitting to around eight grumbles a week – more than once a day.

Luckily for families though, 65 per cent reckon they are at their grumpiest during the week, coming out of their mood in time for the weekend.

More than half of dads also believe a good night’s sleep is often all it takes to bring an end to their grumpiness with another 44 per cent saying a nice gesture from their partner also helps.

And, surprise surprise, if you want to catch dad at his least grumpy, on holiday is the best time, followed by weekends and evenings.

Pollyanna Haigh from Merlin Annual Pass said “From our experience, Dads will openly admit they have a reputation for being the grumpy ones of the family, and we wanted to see if this really was the case; and the survey suggests it is! “As we all know, everyone has grumbles from time to time – perhaps dads are just not as good at hiding their moans as others.

“We commissioned this research after hearing from our attraction guests that their families behave so differently when on a family day out – they are carefree and relaxed, no sight of grumpiness!”

So how does your dad measure up? Here are the top 50 things that make dads grumpy.

1. People leaving the lights on
2. General bad manners
3. Bad traffic
4. Cold callers calling in the evening
5. Bad drivers
6. The front or back door being left open
7. Your favourite football team losing
8. The kids arguing
9. Not spending time with the family because of work
10. Reality TV shows
11. The kids not helping with the chores
12. Doors being slammed
13. All the planning and cost that any family activity involves
14. X Factor
15. Always being asked for money/treated like an ATM
16. People stomping around the house
17. The kids spending too much time on the internet
18. Having the heating on too high
19. Lego/other toys being left lying around for you to stand on
20. Strictly Come Dancing
21. Dance music
22. Being seen as a taxi driver by your children
23. Kids playing music too loud
24. Geordie Shore
25. Not being able to snooze on the sofa
26. The kids staying in bed too long
27. Always being the one to do the bins and recycling
28. EastEnders
29. The kids not eating their meal but then complaining they are hungry later on
30. Drum and Bass music
31. Having to do washing up
32. The kids not saying please or thank-you
33. The cost of petrol
34. Kim Kardashian
35. Being told to do the hoovering/other household chores
36. Having to do all the gardening
37. The television being too loud
38. The kids watching too much TV
39. People popping round to visit unexpectedly
40. Putting up Christmas decorations too early
41. Pop music
42. Having the TV on when eating
43. Their partner’s cooking
44. Always being the one to take the dog for a walk
45. The bathrooms always being occupied when you want to use them
46. Coronation Street
47. The neighbour’s cat
48. Shoes being left by the front/back door
49. Always getting socks at Christmas, birthdays and Father’s Day
50. None / Nothing

The Merlin Annual Pass sale runs until midnight Monday 15^th February 2016. For more information please visit www.merlinannualpass.co.uk.