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Pubs and restaurants opening this weekend

(182 Posts)
Chewbacca Fri 03-Jul-20 09:39:16

A lot of pubs and restaurants are opening this weekend and I was wondering if anyone is looking forward to being able to have a drink or a meal out for the first time since lockdown? Our local neighbourhood Facebook group have just done a poll to see who will amongst the first to go and a surprisingly large amount of people (to me anyway) have confirmed that they can't wait! Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere near but are you looking forward to a return, even with all the special measures for social distancing that they're doing?

merlotgran Fri 03-Jul-20 19:48:09

We bought the lease on a pub/restaurant and camp site in the nineties recession. We did really well in the end but there were tough times when we wondered if we'd be able to keep going.

I'm so glad we're not in that trade now. What a nightmare! The thought of having to close for any reason filled us with dread. I remember DH moaning about having to close for Princess Diana's funeral even though I pointed out to him that we wouldn't have had any customers!!

Evie64 Fri 03-Jul-20 20:39:24

I won't be going anywhere near for a while to see what happens first. I think Saturday will be complete madness. I have however booked a table at a local restaurant for the end of July so I can wait and see and cancel if needed.

gillybob Fri 03-Jul-20 23:36:24

Merlot the landlord (notorious in the area, but new to this pub) has built a makeshift outside bar right opposite my DD’s house . It is on council owned land . I have spelled it out to them . He has now erected around 20 bench seats/tables (you know the kind that seat about 6 people) on the grass , again right opposite my DD’s house . There will be no social distancing and I just know there will be a lot of trouble.
The LA are typically blaming “the Tory government” which is what the idiot in the licensing dept said to me today .

paddyanne Sat 04-Jul-20 00:13:41

Your LA is probably right ,theres been litttle thought put into this and as we've seen in the past 3 months some people dont underst.and "guidlines" it needs to be law ,with consequences if its broken .Both the FM of Scotland and Drakeford in Wales said the lockdown rules being slackened in England is being done ina shambolic manner and it looks like they are right .

sodapop Sat 04-Jul-20 08:40:14

Freeandeasy to highlight a name you need to put an asterisk then the name and another asterisk with no spaces.

Nicolaed Sat 04-Jul-20 09:13:47

Although I'm sheilded and therefore advised strongly not to go out, were I given the opportunity the answer would be a definite no. I think far too much emphasis has been put on today from it being "UK Independance Day" to "Super Saturday". I would have preferred a gradual opening to places rather than the whole lot in one go.

Foxyferret Sat 04-Jul-20 09:16:39

Doesn’t bother me at all, it’s years since I went to a pub. Prefer to drink in the comfort of my own home.

WoodLane7 Sat 04-Jul-20 09:17:27

I think JenniferEccles has hit the nail on the head. The government have to balance risks with keeping the economy going
Personally I won't be going to a pub for 2 or 3 weeks yet as I think there will be a minority of idiots who get way too drunk and create trouble and I am waiting to see what happens.
There were hundreds of thousands of people across the country at BLM demonstrations 2-3 weeks ago and other than Leicester there doesn't seem to have been the expected spike in cases as yet. I guess the real test will be over the next 2-3 weeks though; will there be a spike from the thousands who flocked to beaches last week (if so that would be around next weekend) or from the reopening of pubs and restaurants (if so that will start showing a couple or three weeks from now). If there is then the govt are going to have to go back to the drawing board. If there isn't then I think we can assume that we have, to some degree, managed some of this herd immunity the govt were talking about at the start of all this

Omaoma57 Sat 04-Jul-20 09:20:38

Booked a lunch out next week at our favourite restaurant.. will let you know how it goes...

Shropshirelass Sat 04-Jul-20 09:23:27

No plans to go anywhere. My husband has to shield til 1st August so not really an option anyway. Will watch to see what happens. So difficult, the businesses have to start earning again, it is a very worrying time.

gillybob Sat 04-Jul-20 09:30:57

The LA are not right at all paddyanne the “guidelines” such as they are do not allow for a pub to take over any piece of land and set up an outdoor boozer (it’s council owned so they could easily stop it), nor does it allow the cramming of around 120 seats (20 benches x 6 to a bench) into a small area where social distancing will be impossible. Nor does it allow the erection of a makeshift bar right along the length of a wall ..........

The (Labour run) LA are just copping out of their responsibility and it’s so easy to blame central government . I mean when they’re working from home it must be so hard for them to DO THEIR BL**DY JOB !
Incidentally this is the same council who takes small businesses to court for putting a small sandwich board out to advertise their struggling business.

Sorry to rant but I’m fuming .

GrannyGravy13 Sat 04-Jul-20 09:35:32

gillybob

The LA are not right at all paddyanne the “guidelines” such as they are do not allow for a pub to take over any piece of land and set up an outdoor boozer (it’s council owned so they could easily stop it), nor does it allow the cramming of around 120 seats (20 benches x 6 to a bench) into a small area where social distancing will be impossible. Nor does it allow the erection of a makeshift bar right along the length of a wall ..........

The (Labour run) LA are just copping out of their responsibility and it’s so easy to blame central government . I mean when they’re working from home it must be so hard for them to DO THEIR BL**DY JOB !
Incidentally this is the same council who takes small businesses to court for putting a small sandwich board out to advertise their struggling business.

Sorry to rant but I’m fuming .

gillybob I am fuming for you.

As it is possible to stay over at a family members house from today, is it possible for you to stay with your daughter this evening, to,give her some moral support?

Some people are just so thoughtless and have no respect for those around them.

HAZBEEN Sat 04-Jul-20 09:38:39

You have every right to rant Gillybob! I understand exactly where you are coming from. I have been ranted as well for days at our situation but at least I dont have the added worry of my daughter and grandchilds home being the target of such danger and trouble.
Good luck tonight, I am keeping everything crossed we all get off lightly and some common sense prevails.

Esmerelda Sat 04-Jul-20 09:38:59

If it's a responsible bistro type pub then fine (although I doubt they could break even with the new rules and regulations) but alcohol consumption and social distancing just don't mix so be prepared for mayhem in certain places ... Bournemouth beach all over again but worse (thank goodness it's raining).
I, along with several others on here, certainly will not be going anywhere for a goodish while. Let's see how things go.

Happysexagenarian Sat 04-Jul-20 09:47:07

No we won't. We very rarely visit pubs and restaurants even before lockdown and we certainly won't now.

Gma29 Sat 04-Jul-20 09:49:53

We will not be going to a pub or restaurant anytime soon. Husband is shielding so not an option for him, and I don’t want to risk going myself and exposing him to any increased risk. I would like to support our small village pub which has had a turbulent couple of years, but I won’t be going just yet.

Hickman36 Sat 04-Jul-20 09:50:37

I wont be going to pubs etc it doesnt feel right when I am told by the government I am not able to go into a social bubble because me and my husband are a couple and so is my son and partner therefore i cant look after my grandchildren

gillybob Sat 04-Jul-20 09:53:25

I am going to my DD’s house prepared to stay over if I need to GrannyGravy . She was lumbered with a crazy dog (long story) or else I would bring them down here . Just hoping and praying things aren’t as bad as we fear they maybe .

Thank you HAZBEEN fingers crossed for you too ?

gillybob Sat 04-Jul-20 09:55:14

You can for a social bubble with your family Hickman just as long as they’re not socially bubbled with others. As I’m typing this it sounds so ridiculous doesn’t it ?

harrigran Sat 04-Jul-20 10:08:58

No way will I be going anywhere near a pub, not our thing anyway.
We have had weeks of peace while they have been shut but the noise will start at closing time, tottering up our street and falling out of taxis. Takeaway deliveries usually follow the return home and often arguments spilling out on to the street. I hate that we have flats beside us, average tenancy is 6 to 12 months depending on how quickly their case gets to court.

leeds22 Sat 04-Jul-20 10:09:12

We live in a touristy village with several pubs - we won't be leaving the house or garden this weekend. Just hope there is no trouble and life settles down soon.

Aepgirl Sat 04-Jul-20 10:11:10

No rush for me. How many of these people going to the pub will have been on protest marches, or to the beach recently, and maybe picked up the virus?

winterwhite Sat 04-Jul-20 10:19:00

Gastro pubs serving pricey meals to mainly older people will bring in most money and it will be a pity if they are too scared to come out and make it worth while. At the other end is the student + age group which has been shut up for far too long. They don't drink to excess on the whole and they don't bring in much money. On the other hand they often aren't in and out within 2 hrs. I hope their 'needs' will be 'met' too.

Craftycat Sat 04-Jul-20 10:21:28

Never go to a pub anyway if I can help it. I don't lke the smell or noise.
A bottle or 2 in our garden is much nicer especially with friends & maybe a barbq.

winterwhite Sat 04-Jul-20 10:22:09

Gillybob - not certain who your MP is. Have you tried inviting him to your DD's late this evening to see for himself, because - you add - he's likely to receive complaints about this flagrant and very serious flouting of regulations?