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

[High Dyke]

I would, if doing so did not put me at risk of a mandatory 14 day prison sentence. Due to that - I’m afraid, for me, they may as well all close.

Both the wife and myself are frontline workers. Therefore, we both have to be careful not to suffer from this. However, it hasn't stopped us popping to the local club for a pint or so. Equally, as chairman of the said club I have a responsibility to the employees. I've always said that I don't intend to allow yet another club in town to close - we hardly have any left now, which isn't good for the general populace nor the local economy. Fair enough, there are many of the club members who are still reticent to come out - many of them are in the older age bracket where they don't feel it the right time to go out and socialise (in a fashion).

Pubs, Clubs and other businesses have shown they can still trade, even if it's only at a fraction of the level it was before all of this. I'm not saying it's all rosy, and there are still many businesses at risk of closing for good - and yes the club is still in that 'at risk' category; but, as mentioned across other threads, society has to also take into consideration the mental wellbeing of people not social interacting with others. Oddly enough, one of my colleagues commented yesterday he's started to visit the odd pub for a quiet pint, in the last few days; however, he felt rather uncomfortable at work recently when a couple of maintenance staff turned up. The location he was working is not the biggest. He said it was the first time, since all this started, he'd been in such a confined space with others, which didn't help his mental wellbeing.

 

[trebor79]

We were in there tonight, the beef dripping is that their secret do you think?

Not sure. There's a place in Fowey that also uses beef dripping but personally I don't like their chips as they have an odd flavour. I suspect they don't change the dripping as often as they should, and it's staffed by teenagers who don't care.
Actually the best fish and chips in Southwold is Mrs B's, a shack down at the harbour. Take away or you can sit in (in normal times) in a dining room that looks like something from the 1970s. But you'll get the freshest fish and best chips you've ever eaten.
We'd best take any further discussion to PM, or perhaps the mods could split this off to a fish and chip thread in the general forum?

 

[Richard Scott]

Yes, it's wrong. You can only have a test if symptomatic as they're not felt reliable enough if not. If asymptomatic it's 14 days house arrest.

Then surely just say you've lost your sense of taste/smell and get a test?

 

[Scrotnig]

Putting aside the emotive language, what is arbitrary about it?

Whether you agree with the idea of isolating potential infectees or not, there is a logic to it, surely?

It's arbitrary because in a large pub the chances are I'd have been nowhere near the person with the virus.

It doesn't actually matter whether it's arbitrary or not though. I can't be put in that position.

 

[AdamWW]

It's arbitrary because in a large pub the chances are I'd have been nowhere near the person with the virus.

It doesn't actually matter whether it's arbitrary or not though. I can't be put in that position.

Ah I see.

Yes, I can see you could consider that arbitrary.

I wasn't aware that's how the pub forms were supposed to be used. Is that really how it works?

 

[birchesgreen]

I find the concept a bit flawed, you could be expected to stay at home just because someone who was in your vicinity has tested positive, someone who could easily have caught it themselves after they left the venue.

Self-isolating for 2 weeks for no real reason will throw a lot of people's lives into chaos, especially if others depend on them. To be honest this thing hanging over you has put me off eating out.

 

[AdamWW]

I find the concept a bit flawed, you could be expected to stay at home just because someone who was in your vicinity has tested positive, someone who could easily have caught it themselves after they left the venue.

Self-isolating for 2 weeks for no real reason will throw a lot of people's lives into chaos, especially if others depend on them. To be honest this thing hanging over you has put me off eating out.

The concept is that some people suffer for the overall good.

It might be quite nice if the government were to recognize this by ensuring that people told to isolate were properly supported, e.g. on full pay if they can't work, and with guaranteed access to grocery deliveries etc.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ahh I see - my apologies and thank you for updating me!

Out of curiosity, does this mean that, in actual fact, the majority of active cases are going unnoticed?

This is quite possible, yes.

The concept is that some people suffer for the overall good.

It might be quite nice if the government were to recognize this by ensuring that people told to isolate were properly supported, e.g. on full pay if they can't work, and with guaranteed access to grocery deliveries etc.

Yes, I agree. My view would be that full sick pay should be funded for anyone required to self isolate who cannot work from home, and that they should be bumped to the top of supermarket delivery lists so they can guarantee a delivery.

 

[trebor79]

Yes, I agree. My view would be that full sick pay should be funded for anyone required to self isolate who cannot work from home, and that they should be bumped to the top of supermarket delivery lists so they can guarantee a delivery.

That would be the best way of ensuring people self-isolate when necessary. Unfortunately I have low confidence that the government will implement anything like this, they seem to be more concerned with gimmicks such as "eat out to help out".

 

[takno]

That would be the best way of ensuring people self-isolate when necessary. Unfortunately I have low confidence that the government will implement anything like this, they seem to be more concerned with gimmicks such as "eat out to help out".

The "don't bother eating out til August" scheme has its own difficulties of course

 

[Bishopstone]

Costa Coffee, and most of the independents, remain take-away only though they’re now able to provide for sit-in custom, subject to social distancing measures. I assume they’ve looked at the costs of reducing table numbers, extra cleaning and establishing a contact gathering system, set against reduced revenue, and concluded it doesn’t work financially. I haven’t found this too much of a problem in July, as most town locations have nearby parks or at least street benches to rest a while, but November will be a different story!

Costa have tall Perspex screens around their counters. Notwithstanding this, my order taker yesterday told me to stand back on a red line approximately 2.5 metres from the counter, and ‘shout my order’ to him. But you then have to approach the counter to pay, anyway: felt like total overkill.

Earlier in the week I visited a large Morrisons cafe, where table service is now offered. The supermarket cafes tend to attract an older demographic, and I get the impression that most of this group remain nervous and are staying home but for essential shopping, or sticking to outdoor activities. Consequently the Morrisons cafe was almost empty (late lunch time), and with additional staffing and processes in place - I was allocated a table by a roving ‘host’, which is a new role - then I’m sure they were losing money. Notably, Sainsbury cafes remain closed, and likewise most of the M&S cafes, though the small unit in my local store (Eastbourne) has now re-opened with reduced table capacity.

For the companies and their employees in this sector, ‘crisis’ is not too strong a word.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am not convinced Morrisons cafes are a profit centre in their own right as the prices are quite low and they are quite staff-heavy at times. I think it's more about offering an attractive reason to make the store a "day out" and to get the income from doing your shopping too.

If I'm right in that suspicion it probably doesn't matter if it's a bit quiet provided people are still shopping.

 

[westv]

I am not convinced Morrisons cafes are a profit centre in their own right as the prices are quite low and they are quite staff-heavy at times. I think it's more about offering an attractive reason to make the store a "day out" and to get the income from doing your shopping too.

If I'm right in that suspicion it probably doesn't matter if it's a bit quiet provided people are still shopping.

The nearest Morrisons to us stocks some quite nice food but, for some reason, the café offering is, at times, dire.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The nearest Morrisons to us stocks some quite nice food but, for some reason, the café offering is, at times, dire.

It's a classic greasy spoon - there are increasingly few of those about so people who like classic greasy spoons (like me) tend to be dragged in

 

[Howardh]

Went into Manchester last night, althoug it was easy to find a seat and table inside (plenty available) most of the pubs I went in had their doors and windows wide open, it might be July but it's been a flipping cold July so far and I was uncomfortable and glad to get back home.

Now the weather might warm up a bit in the rest of the summer, but if Autumn kicks in and pubs have to be as open as possible to let air in then it's gonna be hopeless. Hopefully that won't be the case, and doors/windows will be shut but if the inside's full the rest will have to sit outside, or find soemwhere else.

Caught the last train home 2235 Oxford Rd - gonna be fun when fans are allowed back into games when City and United fans are trying to get home from games and that's the last train.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Went into Manchester last night, althoug it was easy to find a seat and table inside (plenty available) most of the pubs I went in had their doors and windows wide open, it might be July but it's been a flipping cold July so far and I was uncomfortable and glad to get back home.

Caught the last train home 2235 Oxford Rd - gonna be fun when fans are allowed back into games when City and United fans are trying to get home from games and that's the last train.

Matches with even limited numbers of spectators won't (re)start until well into the autumn. Full timetables will be back by then. Yes it's not been an amazing July but apparently the very end of the month is set to improve and not just in the south east.

 

[Yew]

The concept is that some people suffer for the overall good.

It might be quite nice if the government were to recognize this by ensuring that people told to isolate were properly supported, e.g. on full pay if they can't work, and with guaranteed access to grocery deliveries etc.

Slightly OT, but this should have been sorted out back in Feb, Priority grocery deliveries, government-funded corona-leave for those who can't work, and maybe even Event cancellation mitigation's. Alas, half a year later, and we've still not got it covered.

 

[Howardh]

Matches with even limited numbers of spectators won't (re)start until well into the autumn. Full timetables will be back by then. Yes it's not been an amazing July but apparently the very end of the month is set to improve and not just in the south east.

Apparently not. I'm hearing rumours that the scheduled September timetable with later trains won't be running. Wish Northern wouuld actually say "Yes, we intend to run a full timetable by Sept or use replacement buses" but they won't.
Next stop's my hopeless MP who probably doesn't know what a train is.

 

[Howardh]

Meanwhile reading an on-line Dutch newspaper, seems that some want to see masks worn inside cafes and bars. Now, come on....even I can see the flaw in that one! Hole for a straw and the only thing on the menu is soup! Seriously though, if this virus hangs around in the air for longer than though and has enough potency to infect, then other than everything being outside I'm not sure how bars or cafes could stay open.

On the positive side, since they were re-opened in the UK I am unaware of any major spike so maybe the rules are working. Leicester was a factory incident? If anyone has evedence to the contrary please tell!

 

[Mag_seven]

Just a reminder that this thread is to discuss your experiences of the social distancing measures in pubs and cafes.

For discussion of the effectiveness etc of "Track and Trace" please see this thread:

Is the Government's contact tracing system effective and worthwhile?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/has-boris-and-the-government-done-a-good-job-of-handling-the-pandemic.205603/ Precisely; and this is exactly the root cause of most of the problems we now face. We had decided as a nation to adopt an approach of natural herd...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[ChrisC]

Has anyone had any experience of dining alone since restaurants etc began to reopen. With social distancing and limited numbers of tables available I wondered if people dining alone would be welcome if you are taking up valuable space which could be occupied by a larger family group.
I’ve booked a few days away in an independently run hotel in North Yorkshire at the beginning of next month. No problem with breakfast as they are serving it in the hotel using their larger dining room usually used for larger events. I suppose that I wouldn’t have any problems eating in the hotel restaurant in the evenings but it would be nice to eat out elsewhere late afternoon or early evening.
I’ve really missed eating out with friends during the lockdown but single people still can’t do this outside our family bubble so it is not easy. I notice that some heritage railways that have reopened are not making it easy for the single traveller who would take up lots of space. I can understand this because they have to make as much money as possible but I hope we are not going to have many months of problems for single people.

 

[yorkie]

I’ve really missed eating out with friends during the lockdown but single people still can’t do this outside our family bubble so it is not easy. ...

Legally you can be in a gathering of up to 30 people but you can still be within the guidelines if you limit the group size to 6 people, and the advice is to go outdoors.

The forum is organising some walks, pub/restaurant visits and more over the next few weeks in group sizes up to 6; if anyone is up for joining us we'd love to hear from you

 

[Howardh]

Saw that the cafe in Morrison's was open again and virtually empty - decided to have my first drink in a cafe or pub for four months. Self-service tea, paid cash (down to a £1, Morrison's cafes are passing on the temporary VAT cut unlike many), took tray to a table many metres from other customers. Surprised a couple of minutes later to be interrupted by the assistant asking me to complete a track/trace form. Considered not doing so, but in the end, with some reluctance, did so with biro supplied, and left it at the table. TBH, if I go there again I shall be much more reluctant to repeat the exercise.

I don't understand the logic of people in general not complying?
HOWEVER I will be happy to accept that if shops have your number you could well be pestered with advertising texts - something which should be outlawed if they are collecting details for covid purposes...yes, I very much admit if that was the case I would give them a false number!!
I'm gonna try that out using the number from my spare phone, and see if businesses try that on.

 

[yorkie]

Let's try not to discuss track & trace (other than merely as observations as part of the remit of this thread) here though please

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't understand the logic of people in general not complying?
HOWEVER I will be happy to accept that if shops have your number you could well be pestered with advertising texts - something which should be outlawed if they are collecting details for covid purposes...yes, I very much admit if that was the case I would give them a false number!!
I'm gonna try that out using the number from my spare phone, and see if businesses try that on.

If you get any advertising texts from registering your details in a pub, report it to the Information Commissioner, as doing that without consent is a clear GDPR breach.

 

[Howardh]

If you get any advertising texts from registering your details in a pub, report it to the Information Commissioner, as doing that without consent is a clear GDPR breach.

Right, thanks! I don't hope on the sheets of paper you sign in there isn't a tiny disclaimer at the bottom that you accept texts! On my trips out I've never been asked for ID so the name and number could be anything.

Will be going out tomorrow seeing if Thursday is any busier than Tuesday! No train, but a bus with drivers that don't wear masks.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Right, thanks! I don't hope on the sheets of paper you sign in there isn't a tiny disclaimer at the bottom that you accept texts!

That doesn't constitute consent for GDPR. They might try it but it would still be a breach.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

No train, but a bus with drivers that don't wear masks.

Slightly off-topic, but I put it here for completeness sake: If the bus driver is behind a perspex screen, then they do not need to wear a face covering.

 

[Howardh]

Slightly off-topic, but I put it here for completeness sake: If the bus driver is behind a perspex screen, then they do not need to wear a face covering.

Yes, but my driver last night got out at the station for a cigarette by the side of the bus and used the passenger entrance (not his own door). Naughty boy. To be fair I don't think he could pass on much Covid between his cab and the open door, but as for setting a good example...hmmm.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, but my driver last night got out at the station for a cigarette by the side of the bus and used the passenger entrance (not his own door). Naughty boy. To be fair I don't think he could pass on much Covid between his cab and the open door, but as for setting a good example...hmmm.

Did he come within 2m of a passenger to do so? If not, I don't really see an issue, if he did he should probably have carried a mask for that time. Masks are an alternative mitigation where 2m cannot be maintained.

Many if not most buses don't have an offside driver's door.