Pubs reopening - that went well ???

Unless we just have a free for all with everything opening at once people are always going to think their priorities should come first but there’s no way to please everyone.

I was shattered when we got home but can’t sleep now. Too much excitement after so many dull days. Better try and rest at least though nothing much happening now for a week or so.

I wonder how long it will take to get some kind of normal life back and then how easy it will be to put it all behind us, if ever!

Not interested in going to a pub, too big a gamble, but I wouldn't mind visiting a quiet and non busy Art Gallery, lack of crowds would make it far more pleasurable.

We went to a craft shop in a rural vineyard with a few outlets. Decided to stop for lunch and had to give contact details etc. My steak sandwich was amazing but it was all a bit of a palaver getting in though very safe. Once in we had to stay at our table and not get up. The coffee and food were placed on the other side of the table so we had to reach over for it. The staff were very friendly and relieved to be back but I bet they will be exhausted tonight.

We then went to Laura Ashley and picked up some total bargains again queueing and having to follow arrows in the shop. One staff member has a job to go to which is good to know. The others not so fortunate. Really felt it was the end of an era though I know Laura Ashley died a long while ago. I used to head there on pay day before we were married.

In the USA, they are having to close bars etc. down again, as the number of cases rise. My daughter lives in Wisconsin, which is the worst affected state. The infection rate started to rise as soon as the Republicans won a court case, challenging the Governor's power to impose a lockdown. All restrictions were immediately lifted and the number of cases began to rise. It scares me, as my eldest grandson works in a restaurant and a lot of the infections seem to be linked to the hospitality trade.

I wonder what will happen here, if the rules for the industry are eased or people get sloppy about following them. Pubs full of drunks, to put it bluntly, seem obvious breeding grounds for infection.

We went to a pub/restaurant today for a meal as it was my birthday. I did not feel unsafe at all as they've reduced the number of tables, so more space around us. A one way in and out system. The same waitress bought our drinks and food and she had to get close to put plates on the table, but kept away other than that. Hand sanitizer at entrance and exit, so in all we felt fairly safe. It was our first venture out since February so slightly nervous, but felt McMullen's did their best.

4allweknow

Just can't understand this desperate need to go to a pub. Yes the beer can taste different, at a price but with all the social distancing needed the atmosphere must be different. Will avoid for some time yet.

I agree, as with a pub it’s all about the atmosphere really, or it is for a lot of people.Convivial chatter, a folk band etc are the things that we look for.It will be a good while before we return to one, but I can see younger people wanting to.

maddyone I prefer that too but it seems unlikely that it will be kept up.
Of course, it might only be one or two that have to do it before the viruses vanishes.

lucky???

Heard something on news about a government spokesperson who had said that after the pubs opening at the weekend it had become apparent that "people who are drunk cannot socially distance" - well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs! - as my gran used to say.

I think that is the new normal FarNorth but I prefer that than pubs staying open regardless. The responsible pub owners will do this, but others?

So pubs will be constantly closing and re-opening as this goes on?
Is that the new normal?

It would seem, from local news, that the Lighthouse in Burma closed when a drinker contacted them 2 days later to say they had the virus, they also provided the proof of the test result. The landlady rang all 90 customers to tell and passed the infor on to the NHS. Other places in Burnham then closed as some of their staff have relatives who were customer. On balance it went well because the landlady took the decision to close.

How can the pubs who have closed reopen straight away after a deep clean surely the staff have to self isolate for 14 days as well? I wouldn't have thought a negative test now was sufficient.

I missed a lot of schooling due to illness when I first started school but managed to catch up fairly quickly. I think primary school children will catch up fairly quickly but those at secondary school will find it very difficult without a lot of support.

I do see your point Buttonjugs
but children’s education is so important and now the rate of infections has come right down I feel the slight increase in risk is a risk we must take.

I believe there hasn’t been a significant increase in cases in those European countries where children returned to school some weeks ago.

There have been so many accounts here of how little school work children have been set over the past four months, and of course many parents need to return to their jobs but are unable to until schools fully open.

If this doesn’t happen soon some children will never catch up, especially those with less than adequate parents.

Just can't understand this desperate need to go to a pub. Yes the beer can taste different, at a price but with all the social distancing needed the atmosphere must be different. Will avoid for some time yet.

Talk about hair and eyebrows! What about kids in flats without access to a playground. That's suffering..?

@JenniferEccles It’s very difficult for children to socially isolate in school. Much easier on days out. For example there were a few children in the pub garden I was in, but only about five or six including my granddaughters. As soon as they came out they used hand sanitiser or went to wash their hands before touching their drinks, and told not to touch their faces while playing. It’s the sheer number of children in school that makes it less safe. The schools don’t feel ready. Could you imagine being in charge of thirty small children and police their movements in this way? It would be impossible. Then those kids will go home to parents, grandparents and siblings possibly from another class.

I was in a pub garden with my son and granddaughters on Saturday afternoon. I don’t actually know if he gave our details to anyone as he was the only one who went to the bar. We all managed to social distance, but there was precious little of it from a few others! “Oh, so and so, it’s been ages, how lovely to see you” followed by hugs and handshake. Petting of each other’s dogs. That sort of thing.

Maw, you state 3 instances of all the pubs that opened in UK, people need to socialise and the economy needs restarting, we cannot stay locked up. You will get problems in restarting things, but it is every ones responsibility to do all they can for themselves to keep safe. Already our youngsters are the real victims in all this, just starting out on their lives. My heart goes out to then. I saw well behaved youngsters going to their local and they were joyous. The people that went out and were found to have Covid, knew They were unwell or they wouldn’t have been tested. Anyone that intentionally does something to endanger anyone, should be made to cough up financially if they were named and shamed in would be a good deterrent.

Although I don’t join those eager to criticise the government for every single decision they make like some people do, I do think some of the decisions they have made are illogical.

Why is it children can visit theme parks, pubs, restaurants, and be dragged round supermarkets yet schools are deemed ‘not safe’?

I wish the government had stood up to the teachers’ unions who never miss an opportunity to try to discredit the government.

I live in one of the towns that has a pub closure. I just think this is bound to happen for a very long time to come as there are new cases every day. It’s a balancing act.

The pubs are doing their best however my son tells me that as he passed his local (on the other side of the road) a crowd of people were meeting and embracing one another.

businesses need to start opening again,but there are always a few who spoil it for everyone else.There was trouble at a few pubs in my town.I've noticed that there are not many cafes open yet,expected more to be open

When I saw her being interviewed on the news yesterday, I was very impressed with the owner/landlady of the pub in Somerset. She came over as very committed to providing a safe service. I wish all those in the Soho area had been half as professional.