How was the "new normal" pub/cafe experience for you?

[yorkie]

I have been to around 6 or 7 pubs now since re-opening, including a lovely one in West Yorkshire, and I must say I am enjoying the 'new normal' experience. I'm relatively young so have spent a lot of time in packed pubs at weekends and do miss that a bit, but the relaxed atmosphere I have experienced at most establishments is brilliant.

I dont miss queuing at the bar and battling for space. I'm very lucky that I have a smart phone that allows me to use websites or apps to place orders, and this combined with table service just makes everything so easy (for myself at least).

Weather permitting, we've also spent more time in pub gardens than we normally would and have made the most of pubs putting more seating in outside areas. I certainly do not have an issue if pubs have to continue as they are for a while yet.

Agreed.

I can understand people wanting to boycott venues that have Network Rail style cumbersome one way systems and complicated rules. But the vast majority of venues are very pleasant and have sensible arrangements.

I would urge those who are fed up with the antics of some venues to 'shop around' and find venues that have sensible arrangements.

There are some venues that have put me off; I won't be going to them again. But most venues have been great and it's made me want to go to pubs/restaurants even more than before.

I'll also plug again that we organise forum events for forum members to socialise and this includes visits to pubs / restaurants and if anyone is interested in joining us, we would love to hear from you. (Contact me directly and quote this message and I will arrange for your first meal to be on us!)

 

[sheff1]

I would urge those who are fed up with the antics of some venues to 'shop around' and find venues that have sensible arrangements.

Agreed. Last week in Birkdale two bistro-type places a few doors apart had very different policies.

One had a list of rules/restrictions displayed where the menu would normally be and a visor-wearing member of staff glaring out of the window. The other looked entirely normal, unmasked staff were either bringing out orders or standing waiting to take orders from new arrivals.

Unsurprisingly, the first had literally no customers whilst the second was full to around 75% of capacity (this at lunchtime) and we joined them. The food and service was excellent and the only 'unusual' thing was a polite request to provide name and telephone details for track & trace once our order had been taken,

 

[Bantamzen]

Had a bit of a crawl around my local area yesterday, and I have to say that one pub (ironically one that made the news as being a potential covid hot spot back in January) in particular felt far more like the pre-covid days, and very pleasant as a result. Sure there was clear separation of tables and signs advising of 1m distancing, sanitisers & table service. But the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, such a relief from the neurotic atmosphere of some other areas in current life.

 

[Howardh]

Had a bit of a crawl around my local area yesterday, and I have to say that one pub (ironically one that made the news as being a potential covid hot spot back in January) in particular felt far more like the pre-covid days, and very pleasant as a result. Sure there was clear separation of tables and signs advising of 1m distancing, sanitisers & table service. But the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, such a relief from the neurotic atmosphere of some other areas in current life.

Bib; yes, I'm finding that as I go around. It's a bit of a kerfuffle to get in most places, but I'm finding the staff overwhelmingly helpful and polite, very tolerant of those of us fiddling with apps etc (my camera wouldn't respond to a Q-code...) and all customers nice and relaxed. Having low levels of noise (music) is just wonderful. Big shout out to the pubs in Brighton/Seaford I visited this week, loved them!
It's as if they WANTED customers! Banks....please note....

 

[trebor79]

It's as if they WANTED customers! Banks....please note....

Banks don't want their customers to use branches. They'd far rather close the lot of them and have it all done online and on the phone rather than pay rent and staff costs for physical branches.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Banks don't want their customers to use branches. They'd far rather close the lot of them and have it all done online and on the phone rather than pay rent and staff costs for physical branches.

And, you know what? I find the service better at a branchless bank (Monzo in my case). I've not been in a bank branch for 20 odd years and I don't see why I'd want to start doing so now.

 

[trebor79]

And, you know what? I find the service better at a branchless bank (Monzo in my case). I've not been in a bank branch for 20 odd years and I don't see why I'd want to start doing so now.

Oh yes, I agree. The last time I went into a branch was to withdraw a large amount of cash, but that's a very unusual situation.
Although currently in the process of ending my relationship with TSB as their online a telephone support is absolutely abysmal.

 

[Bantamzen]

Bib; yes, I'm finding that as I go around. It's a bit of a kerfuffle to get in most places, but I'm finding the staff overwhelmingly helpful and polite, very tolerant of those of us fiddling with apps etc (my camera wouldn't respond to a Q-code...) and all customers nice and relaxed. Having low levels of noise (music) is just wonderful. Big shout out to the pubs in Brighton/Seaford I visited this week, loved them!
It's as if they WANTED customers! Banks....please note....

Funnily enough I had similar problems initially, until I realised that my camera app had a Lens mode that activated the QR reader, doh!

 

[talldave]

Funnily enough I had similar problems initially, until I realised that my camera app had a Lens mode that activated the QR reader, doh!

The pub I visited had QR code leaflets that were so feint my phone struggled to scan it. It eventually scanned an unintelligible string of numbers, so I gave up and entered the URL manually. It then took me a while to realise that I was at "Plough, The" rather than "The Plough", but I got there in the end!! Everything else was relaxed, maskless and enjoyable but then I prefer a more continental pub experience anyway.

 

[Howardh]

And, you know what? I find the service better at a branchless bank (Monzo in my case). I've not been in a bank branch for 20 odd years and I don't see why I'd want to start doing so now.

When you have to do things like probate and estate administration. Can be done by post, but the sheer importance of the stuff that's sent and could get lost or stolen, ie. death certificates, probate certificates, passports for identity, the deceased's account numbers, my account numbers...no thanks! Take them physically to the bank and let them copy them, and the documents come home safely.

Side issue: I'm about to open a postal building society account and they allow copies of your ID (eg driver's licence) so I'm happier with that.

 

[Howardh]

Funnily enough I had similar problems initially, until I realised that my camera app had a Lens mode that activated the QR reader, doh!

I downloaded a QR reader app, that did the job just fine. But only downloaded after workign out the camera wasn't up to it! Good phone too...It'll be me that can't use it properly.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When you have to do things like probate and estate administration. Can be done by post, but the sheer importance of the stuff that's sent and could get lost or stolen, ie. death certificates, probate certificates, passports for identity, the deceased's account numbers, my account numbers...no thanks! Take them physically to the bank and let them copy them, and the documents come home safely.

I'm not going to choose a less convenient form of banking for my day to day life for something that happens once.

Side issue: I'm about to open a postal building society account and they allow copies of your ID (eg driver's licence) so I'm happier with that.

Monzo do too.

 

[Howardh]

I'm not going to choose a less convenient form of banking for my day to day life for something that happens once.

Twice in my case, within 24 months, concerning several financial institutions. The second occasion was during the covid pandemic, making life a lot more difficult. Got everything done eventually. So glad the local branches were open and accepting appointments.

 

[Djgr]

I'm not going to choose a less convenient form of banking for my day to day life for something that happens once.



Monzo do too.

Googling around suggests Monzo is not long for this world!

 

[takno]

Googling around suggests Monzo is not long for this world!

Monzo are probably fine. They've had to trim costs a bit, but the underlying validity of the business hasn't changed. They are in a completely normal startup situation of not yet being profitable yet, but because they are a bank they have to produce reports under banking regulations which make that sound much more alarming than it is.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Monzo are probably fine. They've had to trim costs a bit, but the underlying validity of the business hasn't changed. They are in a completely normal startup situation of not yet being profitable yet, but because they are a bank they have to produce reports under banking regulations which make that sound much more alarming than it is.

I suspect their game is to build tech and be bought out by someone bigger.

In any case FSCS means no need to fear.