Is going out the new ‘ joyless fuck’?

[Dowser]

Been in all day so about 5-30 pm we had a drive to a picturesque N Yorks market town,
Thinking we might find somewhere not too busy for a quiet drink.
We eventually found somewhere that although busy -ish had a table . It had been an old coaching inn and nice inside but omg was like a drs waiting room.
We literally felt we’d walked into someone’s parlour . It was so quiet with about 3-4 tables occupied and no one was saying a word.

We ordered drinks and every few minutes could hear the greeter trilling away, wear your masks until you get to your table and then you can take them off.
This was, literally every few minutes as people were herded about and all seems so pointless.

We drank our over priced drinks and got out of there as fast as possible.

If that’s what the new going out is going to be like, we won’t be bothering.
I’d rather watch paint dry.

[Trailing1]

I hear you, OP. We attempted lunch at a bar and it was just awkward and the atmosphere was just meh. It really doesnt feel worth going out.

[Sorka]

I went for lunch today with family and we were snapped at to wear our masks inside then told we could take them off once we had sat down at our table...right next to where we had been standing. So pointless. I wear a mask in shops but some of the silly ways the rules are applied are painful and make going out joyless.

[thenightsky]

Depends on where you go. Thursday morning in Ulverston. Me and DH queued for the AMAZING Bake House Born and Bread. Fab place, fab food. Atmosphere was fine too.

[StephenBelafonte]

Your thread title says it all and I agree wholeheartedly!

[TheMurk]

Yes the joy has purposely to keep us sad and obedient been sucked out of everything.

As a society we will get used to it, adapt, and never go back.

[CherryPavlova]

Had lunch out but had to queue to get into the bakery to get delicious sandwiches which we ate with a cup of coffee sat on a bench looking at the sea. It was lovely.
Had a drink in a very busy but quite random bar whilst waiting for a takeaway. Not sure bar owner cares two figs about Coronavirus. You can still get two large Sauvignons for under eight pounds; no surprise he’s busy.
I think a very pleasant evening can be had with three couples drinking at one of the couples homes - under gazebo, perhaps.

[LadyCatStark]

Yes and no. DH and I went out for an amazing Mexican meal tonight and there was a great atmosphere but we sat in the window and we could see what must have been a very popular bar. There was a queue to get in and almost everyone gave up after about 10 mins and went somewhere else. People seemed to have to queue outside, go in one group at a time and the wait to be seated inside, so a lot of standing around and waiting. We were going to go for a drink there after our meal but didn’t bother. As we were going back to the car at around 8:30, two women got off a bus all dressed up and freezing looking and one said to the other “I’m not bloody queuing for anywhere” ermm... yeah you are! All that getting ready for an hour and a half too 🤷‍♀️

[BobbinThreadbare123]

@thenightsky I'm not too far away from there. I'll have to check it out!

Some places have become joyless, yes. Some places are creatively managing this whole shitshow. I'm not keen on going out now but I think that we've got to keep people's livelihoods and the economy supported.

[vanillandhoney]

Nope - sorry but I don't recognise that at all. I've been out several times and it's fine - not remotely joyless, great food and great service all round.

We've been out twice a week on average since July and have never experienced anything like you describe. We're in the Lakes if that makes a difference.

[TweetUsOnFacebook]

I agree. We've managed one meal out but it felt such a let down. No music playing, sombre atmosphere and difficult to communicate with staff as they had masks and visors. I feel for them and WANT to give them business but it's just so rubbish. We'll stick to takeaways and M&S meal deals until 'things' get better.

[AnyFucker]

Yeah.

Went to a local beauty spot today. It's the kind of place you can normally sit outside for drinks/food or wander in and peruse the cakes and coffee menu.

I put my mask on and braved the threshold. With every step and turn I took I was accosted with "can I help you" and "where are you headed"

The place was an echo chamber. I bought a drink from the shop. My dd and dh went into the cafe. I headed to the toilets with some poor sod literally on my shoulder all the way. I politely invited them to monitor my toilet use before they would withdraw and leave me be.

Pre-covid this place was a laid back touristy complex

It was horrible.

[Craddle64]

On the plus side my bank balance is looking very well despite a mini mountain of online parcels.

[motherofdxughters]

It really is. I've been to the pub twice / once on one table outside with friends which was nice and once on a pub crawl indoors with friends with pre-booked tables. Utterly shite. No atmosphere. Overpriced drinks. I miss being at home when I'm out so I don't feel so constrained and feel like I'm paying a premium to have a sub-par time.

[CountessFrog]

I was in a pub garden earlier in the week, clearly being a massive inconvenience to the staff, who treated everyone like lepers, snapping at them and barking rules.

It’s a pub I go to a lot (three times in the last fortnight I think). I won’t go back.

It’s hard to reconcile this with reports that pubs are worried they will close.

[TwentyViginti]

@TheMurk

Yes the joy has purposely to keep us sad and obedient been sucked out of everything.

As a society we will get used to it, adapt, and never go back.

Well it's worked on me. I'm very sad and obedient.

[Leafyhouse]

One hour queue to get into the Apple Store today (whilst wearing a face mask), traffic everywhere, I bailed when I saw a 1 hour queue for McDonalds. Think I'll stay home and get stuff delivered.

[Fantasisa]

It is these rules that will kill many more businesses off. I HATE wearing a mask so I will only go to places where they are required if it is really necessary. I'm happy to social distance but the widespread mask use now means I won't be spending my disposable income which means me and the DC are in for a boring winter and businesses that would have benefited from us spending money - restaurants, coffee shops, climbing walls, cinemas, bowling alleys, will not be getting any of our cash. It is sad all round.

[amalfiboast]

Yep, I'm with you OP, went for lunch today at my favourite place. Havent been out for lunch since February due to Covid and small baby. Joyless is the word. The place was busy but the menu had been scaled back and wasn't what we were expecting. Freezing cold, other people hollering, staff were great but looked frazzled, temp checks.

I know that there is no other way and I really want these businesses to make it through this pandemic. But honestly it just wasnt enjoyable enough to keep going out very often.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yep agree. Little spontaneity and relaxation. We've just come back from a day out and we stayed the night before just in a Premier Inn. We usually really enjoy it and the children are entertained by having a room of their own. In between wiping everything down and remembering masks just to nip to the car, it was more stressful than it was worth. Then the day out, it was nice but again it just didn't feel relaxing in the usual way. It was a case of do what needs to be done and on to the next thing. Secretly looking forward to getting back into the car where we can touch stuff and take our masks off.
Maybe it'll get better as it becomes more second nature but we're all off at half term, it's my birthday, and I've told dh that I do not want to go and stay away anywhere. It's just not worth it for me at the moment.

[Nancydrawn]

@TheMurk

Yes the joy has purposely to keep us sad and obedient been sucked out of everything.

As a society we will get used to it, adapt, and never go back.

This is ridiculous. There is a huge thirst for normalcy. As soon as this bloody thing is over there will be street parties. We are enormously resilient as a species and as a culture.

[thenightsky]

[quote BobbinThreadbare123]@thenightsky I'm not too far away from there. I'll have to check it out!

Some places have become joyless, yes. Some places are creatively managing this whole shitshow. I'm not keen on going out now but I think that we've got to keep people's livelihoods and the economy supported.[/quote]
Its Ulverston's best kept secret they say. We had the soup with the savoury scone. And the best coffee we've had in at least a year.

[Puppylucky]

I'm not sure if it's true of everywhere. We went out to dinner tonight and yes the mask thing is annoying and must be truly horrible for the kitchen staff (open kitchen), but that aside it was a lovely evening with exquisite food. The staff were so welcoming and clearly keen to make it work, despite the goal posts moving on a regular basis, that I would be happy to support them even if the experience had been suboptimal which it certainly wasn't.

[Ilovelblue]

@Sorka

I went for lunch today with family and we were snapped at to wear our masks inside then told we could take them off once we had sat down at our table...right next to where we had been standing. So pointless. I wear a mask in shops but some of the silly ways the rules are applied are painful and make going out joyless.

Totally agree. I was away last week with a friend and had to queue in the hotel reception to go into the restaurant wearing a mask then the minute we were inside, we could take them off. The people queueing in front of us (in masks of course) sat at the next table to us. Not sure if I'm totally thick, but I agree the rules are applied in a mad way. We could catch the virus in reception, hence the mask wearing, but not in the restaurant?

[Doryhunky]

I haven’t been out much but I think it is hard to get the balance. Either I was in a half empty pub with no atMosphere or the restaurant was too busy for social distancing. Either way the pleasure of communal eating has gone. It feels too risky. Not for my own health but for the general uptick in infections. Going out feels shortsighted and dangerous.

[waitforitwaitforit]

The things about the staff in these places barking at you is that their managers will have impressed upon them that it's vital that people follow these rules, and the managers will be living in fear of a visit from environmental health which could have them shut down. It's a new way of working for everyone.