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Original poster

Is this the new eating out

29 replies

ivykaty44 · 10/07/2021 09:04

Went out for a meal last night and the place was packed, not an issue with that but the service was so very slow as they clearly didn't have enough staff

we sat down at 7.55 and our food arrived at 9.30 shortly after our drinks at 9.10, we did have table water though so that was ok
we paid the bill at 10.45

there were two waiting staff servicing the entire restaurant bar area and about 50 covers approx

OP posts:
Roodicus21 · 10/07/2021 09:46

My experience is the opposite! Really attentive staff and overall great service.

Emusareweird · 10/07/2021 09:48

My experience is the opposite! Really attentive staff and overall great service.

Same, I went out for a meal last night and didn't even have to book!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 10/07/2021 09:49

I went for coffee and cake with a friend the other day. 3 tables occupied and 4 waiting staff.

It took 3/4 hour to be served.

TCMcK · 10/07/2021 09:51

This is going to be happening everywhere. A good majority of people are either testing positive or isolating.

BunnyRuddington · 10/07/2021 09:52

I think you've just been unlucky. We went out a couple of weeks ago and the staff were very attentive. We don't live in an area where the hospitality trade has been overly affected by Brexit though. I realise that in some areas lots of staff were from Europe and they're really struggling to recruit.

Daisy829 · 10/07/2021 09:53

One of our local restaurants is still doing delivery alongside running the eat in diners and the service eating in has been terrible as they can’t manage both. It’s hard for them as I guess they don’t want to lose business but if staff aren’t able to work they can’t provide the service.

PegasusReturns · 10/07/2021 09:53

I’ve had terrible service including at 5 star hotels and a Michelin star restaurant in recent weeks. I think lots of places have lost really good staff (Brexit/furlough) and are now being staffed by people who have no experience and have only been trained on covid protocols and not how to interact with customers

ineedaholidaynow · 10/07/2021 09:54

Lots of places are struggling to recruit, either due to Brexit or because whilst hospitality was closed their staff found other jobs

girlmom21 · 10/07/2021 09:55

I think you were just unfortunate - everywhere I've eaten out since places have reopened have been fantastic

Oblomov21 · 10/07/2021 09:59

Nope. Ate out at a restaurant Friday night. All good, attentive, food good and quick.

sourrain · 10/07/2021 15:48

I live in a very touristy area and know many people working in hospitality. Most places are severely understaffed and having to close on days they would otherwise be open. Covid, Brexit, but also the sheer number of customers - as UK holidays have been on the up everywhere is packed out, even with more staff the ratios in a lot of places would still be a bit off. Lockdown and furlough showed how terrible the jobs can be, many people switched industries. have to also feel sorry for the 2 waiting staff serving 50 covers, must've been a nightmare for them along with worrying about dissatisfied customers / negative reviews. It's a tough time for hospitality to say the least!

Sorry you had a negative experience though. In my experience despite busyness and delays, staff worked the best they could and it was good service given the circumstances.

lastqueenofscotland · 10/07/2021 15:53

I wonder if this Friday in particular people understaffed thinking it would be quiet as people might be saving £ for the euros

CrouchEndTiger12 · 10/07/2021 15:54

Not experienced that before. But why on earth did you wait 90 mins?

sourrain · 10/07/2021 16:00

Also - was it the kind of restaurant you book, or a larger place suited to walk-ins? A lot of the places around here you have to book - even if understaffed the wait should not be that long (you plan accordingly and take fewer bookings if you have to be understaffed). If it's a more casual place that takes walk-ins I understand it a bit more. I'm on about, say, a small bistro style restaurant that you'd need to book for vs a more casual place like Pizza Hut.

PuppyMonkey · 10/07/2021 16:00

You waited an hour and ten minutes for your drinks? Without saying anything to someone? Confused

TillyTopper · 10/07/2021 16:49

I think there are a lot of new staff (certainly my own DS have got jobs quickly which is great for them). Many are obviously inexperienced so it will be slower - learning where stuff is etc. There are also staff shortages as people try to ramp back up quickly. Hopefully a quick and nicely put reminder helps.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 10/07/2021 16:54

PuppyMonkey

we didn't order drinks till 8.30, we did ask a couple of times for the drinks. the waitress it seemed was trying. we actually left her a tip but she left at 10 so not sure whether she got it ?

OP posts:
Original poster
ivykaty44 · 10/07/2021 16:57

But why on earth did you wait 90 mins?

we were out for a birthday meal, all hungry. We called the waitress to order, we called her back to ask about drinks order

what would you have done?

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 10/07/2021 17:00

There are shortages of hospitality and retail staff. I wanted to have a coffee or brunch at a particular in Manchester today, but it was closed with a sign saying they didn't have enough staff. Lots of other places advertising for staff.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 10/07/2021 17:03

I don't know, haven't tried to eat out since last August.

but here's our most recent takeaway. 😳
we called them Bürgers. from IKEA. some self-assembly required

Is this the new eating out
Is this the new eating out
Tavelo · 10/07/2021 17:10

Yes a lot of the hospitality industry is new staff now, with the experienced staff forced out after getting only 80% of what was already poverty pay ?or forced home after Brexit). A lot of people think those jobs are unskilled but it's actually hard work both physically and mentally. The industry will probably see even higher staff turnover than usual from now on and permanently reduced efficiency unless there is a significant rise in wages.

Micemakingclothes · 10/07/2021 17:13

I’m in a completely different country, but a bunch of restaurants near me have gone out of business, not for lack of customers, but for lack of staff. It was an issue before Covid because of an extremely low unemployment rate, but even with higher unemployment resulting from the pandemic, restaurant jobs are unappealing. I have to imagine knowing your customers will always need to be unmasked or if it gets bad enough you will simply lose your job is going to be a huge deterrent. At least in retail jobs mask mandates can come in and keep things going.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 10/07/2021 17:20

@WeAreTheHeroes there are some great cafes and restaurants in Manchester, I like vertigo in particular as there chocolate brownies are delicious

OP posts:
Original poster
ivykaty44 · 10/07/2021 17:21

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba not looking wonderful....

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 10/07/2021 17:30

Places I went to were order from an app. Can't be fucked with that as a dining experience so won't be going back.