And I thought I was in for a free lunch

The PA at work sent around this message today.

I went down, there thinking - hey this company isn't so cheap. Maybe the boss is going to thank us for some contract they've just won. Maybe those foreign workers they outsource work too produced some B+ code that they decided to share some of the profits around.

Then I saw the long queue, of staff members paying for their own food and drinks.

I really despise being invited to do something, only to find out that I have to pay for everything myself.

Where's the invite?

"Be there" is an expectation.

Never go to any lunch unless the CEO or MD is going.

I bet you had to work an extra hour too.
Just quit, work for yourself, that way you can claim the lunch from your taxable income.