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

[Journeyman]

Yes, big attraction to me. LNER had good seating for this , avanti not so much.

Unless you're in coach K - is it still the private members' club for staff?

 

[yorksrob]

Well, I went for a few beers after work today to see what the mid-week experience was like. Unfortunately the pub of choice closed at 9. Couldn't find any to replace it. Can't blame the pub - there weren't enough people to keep it open longer, but it's a sorry situation.

 

[VauxhallandI]

We had lunch at Pizza Express on Saturday which was our first venture out and it was fine. Good spacing and food was placed on the adjacent table for us (table joined together).

I do however find it amazing the number of grown adults whining about masks etc; it’s not the end of the world.

 

[Journeyman]

We had lunch at Pizza Express on Saturday which was our first venture out and it was fine. Good spacing and food was placed on the adjacent table for us (table joined together).

I do however find it amazing the number of grown adults whining about masks etc; it’s not the end of the world.

No, it isn't, but it's heavy-handed, inconvenient, unnecessary and creates a lot of problems for some people. It's not the act of having to wear a mask that bothers me, it's the complete failure of politicians to justify their decisions and put proper, accountable review measures in place.

 

[MontyMinerWA]

We haven't been to a pub since the restrictions were lifted. Our favourite pub is a 40 minute walk away across fields; we love the walk but the worry about there being no space for us and thus having to return home immediately has put us off venturing out.

This is a real shame but I don't blame either the pub or the Government for this. It is what it is and we just have to get on with it.

 

[yorksrob]

We haven't been to a pub since the restrictions were lifted. Our favourite pub is a 40 minute walk away across fields; we love the walk but the worry about there being no space for us and thus having to return home immediately has put us off venturing out.

This is a real shame but I don't blame either the pub or the Government for this. It is what it is and we just have to get on with it.

You could always give them a bell beforehand.

 

[MontyMinerWA]

You could always give them a bell beforehand.

That's true but in 40 minutes things can quickly change. We're just two old gits who want a couple of pints!

 

[Huntergreed]

Went out for a meal in a pub tonight. No contact details were taken, staff wearing visors and/or masks, perspex screens between seats. Without the crowding around the bar, it felt very normal and I was very impressed, here's hoping this is us slowly but surely returning normality into our lives!!

 

[Journeyman]

That's true but in 40 minutes things can quickly change. We're just two old gits who want a couple of pints!

Do they not offer bookings? Almost all pubs in my neck of the woods are strongly encouraging it, at the very least. Some are reservation only.

 

[MontyMinerWA]

Do they not offer bookings? Almost all pubs in my neck of the woods are strongly encouraging it, at the very least. Some are reservation only.

They offer bookings for food but they only serve food between 12.00 and 14.30. Other than that you just have to take your chances. And we're only really able / willing to visit on a Friday / Saturday evening.

 

[yorksrob]

That's true but in 40 minutes things can quickly change. We're just two old gits who want a couple of pints!

You'll probably be ok at the moment. I've not been unable to get in one since they've reopened.

Except the very first Saturday, but that was a bit different.

 

[MontyMinerWA]

You'll probably be ok at the moment. I've not been unable to get in one since they've reopened.

Except the very first Saturday, but that was a bit different.

The weather forecast for tomorrow evening looks okay so we're going to venture across the fields and see what happens!

 

[yorksrob]

The weather forecast for tomorrow evening looks okay so we're going to venture across the fields and see what happens!

Best of luck with it

 

[Journeyman]

They offer bookings for food but they only serve food between 12.00 and 14.30. Other than that you just have to take your chances. And we're only really able / willing to visit on a Friday / Saturday evening.

Fair enough. That does make things a bit trickier.

 

[MontyMinerWA]

Best of luck with it

Thank you. The currently situation is not good for any of us but we need to try and make the best of things.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unless you're in coach K - is it still the private members' club for staff?

I can't imagine that having changed. For some reason VT were completely unwilling to put their foot down about it.

 

[Butts]

Well I ventured out with my Daughter on Sunday Afternoon for a meal at The Grange Inn in St Andrews .

It's only a small establishment , very old with a myriad of rooms.

We were placed in a room that had 2 other tables in - ours was by the window looking out to the sea.

There were no abominations of plastic anywhere in sight. The only difference from the normal service, the staff had masks on.

As always excellent three course Michelin standard Lunch for £25 head.

If anyone ever finds themselves in St Andrews I can highly recommend said establishment.

 

[nlogax]

If anyone ever finds themselves in St Andrews I can highly recommend said establishment.

Had an amazing lunch last time I was in St Andrews. The Cheesy Toast Shack, down by the beach

 

[birchesgreen]

I had to give my name and phone number when sitting down in my local big-chain coffee shop, i did notice they wrote my number down wrong though.

 

[farleigh]

I had to give my name and phone number when sitting down in my local big-chain coffee shop, i did notice they wrote my number down wrong though.

Yes - I have seen some 'interesting' names on these lists. Some unrepeatable in polite company.

 

[trebor79]

my gf went to a restaurant that was only serving their food in take away containers.
Do they not have a dishwasher to wash their crockery and cutlery?

Just ridiculous. They wouldn't get my custom.

Not necessarily. Remember kitchen staff have to social distance. It might not be possible to do that and handle washing up at the same time.

From what I've seen, social distancing does not happen behind the counter or in the kitchen.
We went to Southwold at the weekend. Bought some fish and chips from the place just down from the Swan hotel. Usual procedure to queue and place order, only 1 customer in shop at a time with some nautical themed obstacles to prevent you getting too close to the counter. Then as usual wait in the courtyard outside for your order to be called. It's only a small courtyard and a very busy establishment, so not for the paranoid. There were 6 staff working there. Zero chance of them staying 2m apart. Other than 1 person in the shop at a time, it was completely normal.
Fish and chips were excellent. Fortunately my veggie wife didn't notice the sign saying they are cooked in beef dripping, but she did comment on the loveliness of the chips .

 

[jumble]

Yes - I have seen some 'interesting' names on these lists. Some unrepeatable in polite company.

I think I am correct in saying that there is no obligation whatever for you or the pub to participate in taking names
If a pub is pretending otherwise then no one should be surprised if customers decline to be truthfull

Certainly the Weatherspoons I went into simply had forms on a table with no staff discussing it at all and I bet that most pubs will soon go down this route

[Withdrawn] Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace

Venues in certain sectors should continue to ask customers, visitors and staff to 'check in', to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)

www.gov.uk

If someone does not wish to share their details, or provides incorrect information
Although this is voluntary, please encourage customers and visitors to share their details in order to support NHS Test and Trace and advise them that this information will only be used where necessary to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I can live with a couple of aspects of the current experience being semi-permanent, but I do want most aspects to disappear moving forward. The queuing system can be civilised especially on quieter weekdays, but I'm very much against people tracking and tracing me. Fewer pubs reopening might condense more people into those which have reopened, however. When social distancing is either eliminated or reduced to discretionary, I think people should still try to keep a little distance from those not in their bubble, but then pubs are a good place to chat people up or meet others on a whim so that should be handled carefully. The Wetherspoons' policy of a left/right system for the toilets can stay: that should have been in place pre-COVID and should be applied to independents too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm very much against people tracking and tracing me

You'll be stuck there I'm afraid. Track and trace is the basis of being able to remove other restrictions, because it allows you to find out who's been near an infected person and isolate them. That will be in place far, far longer than any other measure, even masks.

 

[trebor79]

The Wetherspoons' policy of a left/right system for the toilets can stay: that should have been in place pre-COVID and should be applied to independents too.

What is that?

 

[Jamesrob637]

You'll be stuck there I'm afraid. Track and trace is the basis of being able to remove other restrictions, because it allows you to find out who's been near an infected person and isolate them. That will be in place far, far longer than any other measure, even masks.

GDPR is in place nowadays though. Pre-2018 I'd have fully agreed with what you just said.

 

[farleigh]

You'll be stuck there I'm afraid. Track and trace is the basis of being able to remove other restrictions, because it allows you to find out who's been near an infected person and isolate them. That will be in place far, far longer than any other measure, even masks.

Not necessarily. As I mentioned upthread, many people are just giving false information to bypass the system. Also, many places are not requesting the info - certainly places I have visited.

 

[Jamesrob637]

What is that?

You go upstairs to the loos on the left hand side and come down the stairs from the loos on the left hand side too. If we drive on the left, which we do, that makes perfect sense.

Some branches do not have upstairs or downstairs loos

 

[Bletchleyite]

GDPR is in place nowadays though. Pre-2018 I'd have fully agreed with what you just said.

It passes a legitimate interest test provided it's done correctly (i.e. not just an open sheet of everyones' details on the table with a pen). It is in your interest to be notified if you may have COVID so you can watch for it and obtain a test and treatment, and reduce risk of spread to your family, it is in society's interest because an infection may be taken out of circulation, and it is in the business's interest because they are less likely to be seen as negligent.

It's almost the definition of the legitimate interest test.

Not necessarily. As I mentioned upthread, many people are just giving false information to bypass the system. Also, many places are not requesting the info - certainly places I have visited.

If compliance is poor it'll be legislated. Sounds like it needs to be.

 

[GusB]

I've been out to my local a few times since indoor drinking was reintroduced. There's a stand with hand sanitiser as you go in the front door, and exit is through the back door, although this only strictly enforced if the place is busy. Details are taken by the bar staff as you go in and go into an A4 folder. They record name, telephone number, time of arrival and time of departure, where possible and they're using a new sheet per day. I understand these will be destroyed after 21 days. I haven't seen anyone object to details being recorded so far. The 1 metre distancing is mostly being observed and staff are reminding people not to move seats or get too close. Having said that, there was a large group of younger people having a leaving do on Sunday night and in that corner of the pub distancing went out of the window. The member of staff on duty was of a similar age and didn't make any effort - perhaps not having the confidence.

Other than that, it's seems like a fairly normal experience. The only gripe I have is that I can't sit at the bar, but it's something I can live with as long as I can get out of the house and socialise.