To think that those of us who work in the restaurant trade are finished?

[WeAreAllDoomedITellYa]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8286345/UKs-work-blueprint-Hot-desking-banned-no-sharing-pens-canteens-closed.html?offset=52&max=100&jumpTo=comment-542862327#comment-542862327

It's the Daily Fail, I know.

But if true very bad news for those of us in the restaurant trade.

It feels like a long drawn out death to me.

At the end of the day too these measures are all very well as a temp measure if required but people really can’t be expected to live like this long term, it’s ridiculous.

I think as a chef he will be ok - takeaway and even fine dining in are still there, plus foodindustry also employs a lot of chefs for their ready made meals.

@Floatyboat dh is always telling me off for spending too much time on here for that very reason - a lot more negativity in here than you would necessarily get in real life for some reason.

I think places will have to become more inventive but also be more mindful of their prices.
A local pub which was very popular before the lockdown decided to start doing meals by delivery. It proved very popular at first because people wanted to support a local business but it seems to have tailed off now.
They are charging the same price as when their restaurant was opened and I think a lot more people Have found the novelty has worn off and are now looking at their finances more.
I certainly can’t afford to pay them for a family meal more than once every couple of months and many are the same.
If they lowered their prices to be more inline with local takeaways bearing in mind your now using your own plates and doing your own washing up then a lot more people can afford to support them long term.

I agree with Daisy, I think people WILL return to restaurants in their droves. Of course some people might not feel comfortable and thats their choice but its also others choice to go back if its allowed. Every person I have spoken to has said they will go out for meals the second we are allowed. Someone I know even said they would eat out every day for a week lol

At the end of the day too these measures are all very well as a temp measure if required but people really can’t be expected to live like this long term, it’s ridiculous.

I agree. I will go out when it's allowed and there is somewhere to go. But on the other hand, going to a restaurant or pub and having to social distance won't be a fun experience.

Not long ago there was talk of how our high streets were being decimated by on-line shopping. Councils' responses were that high streets need to become entertainment centres, focussing on experiences, with many coffee shops and eateries. What will happen now?

That's an interesting question. I also agree with a PP who said it's the virus which is causing the lockdown. This is a global phenomenon. The planet is on house arrest and industries are facing an existential threat. There is a collapse in demand and a glut of supply. It is hard to see how the world resumes life as it was before this pandemic. Tourism, travel, hospitality? These are all facing an uncertain future.

what about all those weddings?

I can't imagine going out to a restaurant for some time even if they open soon. I think lots of people will remain very cautious and others will have no spare cash for something that isn't a necessity......Sorry

I don’t agree with this. People like eating out and I for one will eat out again as soon as possible, the food and catering industry is huge, yes it’s going to take a big hit and some may not have jobs to go back too but it will recover.

I have worked in catering up until a few years ago when I started working in care, I always planned to go back to the food industry and I hope I still can. I think things are going to be tough for many industries for a while but I don’t think food will be the worst hit. I think we will see the end of many high street shops, people can buy clothes etc online but they can’t get the experience of eating out. I’m fed up of cooking every night at home and can’t wait to eat out 😂

@Lieinrequired us too, DH works in live events. Can't see him having any work for a long, long time. And I can't work due to disability so it's a fun time for us all round.

Makes me want to scream when people say oh businesses will just have to adapt. Fucking how exactly?

There won't be enough work for everyone. My DD qualified as a Chef but luckily decided to take some time before applying for jobs. So she stuck with her fast food pizza job, which has stayed open. She usually works the race meets, starting off with the grand national. Then sporting events, to get a varied CV. She wanted a stint on a cruise ship.

You'll find Chefs going for ff, pub kitchen and kitchen porter jobs. Which takes those who had an enthusiasm for kitchen work, but might have struggled with getting qualified, out of the running.

It was a stable form of employment here in Liverpool. Prescot has based itself on a new Shakespeare theatre and a town full of bars. I hope it does take off again. Or things are going to be dire. There's nothing to replace those jobs.

Well I doubt that restaurants will be over forever but equally I’m sure that a lot of them will go bust before things return to normal. A lot of this hangs on insurers. Most of them are refusing to pay out (although my husband has a friend whose representing a few business in this category in legal fights so I expect we will see how likely this is sooner rather than later, we personally not the public at large as insurance companies deliberately keep such matters behind closed doors). Even if they do pay out a lot of businesses don’t have adequate coverage anyway so it may not be enough.

But if you do belong in the category with a high chance of dying, going for a meal to support someone else's job looks less like a fun night out and more like a suicide choice . It feels like bullying if you expect such people to put aside their all too real fears

Erm. Where has ANYONE said you will be forced to go out? "Suicide choice" Jeez. Catastrophise much!

Prior lock down, DH & I would go to high end restaurants, and wouldn't blink at spending money on a great meal, but just can't see us doing it in a hurry, even after restaurants are open again.

Lots of chefs are cooking for the NHS, homeless etc, and am wondering if this will change them? Will the experience change the focus of their menus and make it more accessible?

Large restaurants with outdoor space will start to do ok in the summer months and will probably invest heavily in outdoor heaters for the winter months, hopefully that will mean the smaller restaurants without outside space will be able to make social distancing easier. And good takeout from restaurants will probably also become the norm for some too 😊

I know this over simplifies but just want to try a positive spin on this one, you never know. .

We loved eating out and having a few drinks-it’s very hard to imagine right now how it’ll work. Not so much the sitting as they can space arrival times and tables but stuff like the toilets. I can go a full meal without needing a wee but for people who can’t it would maybe stop them going out for a meal. Pubs, will they maybe do a max of 2/3 per table spaced out and drinks left at a handover spot? Will we only be allowed two drinks so staff don’t have to deal with any rowdiness, putting them in a position they might have to be closer than 2 metres? So many questions!

I work in beauty, virtually leaning over people’s faces to do my main bulk of work and even with the thought of wearing ppe I still feel uncomfortable at the thought of re-opening at the moment. Years of work building up my business just gone. Clients come in with coughs and colds because they want their treatments, I can see some people saying ‘it’s only a sniffle’ and still visiting hairdressers/beauticians because they’ll be desperate to get pampered.

It’s such an uncertain time 😕

Oilyoilyoilgob, your business will really benefit if there's a breakthrough in antibody testing and knowledge. Hopefully that will happen soon and it will provide enough of a client base.

what about all those weddings

People will go small and intimate hopefully rather than the whole brides big day.

It’s a difficult situation pre vaccine. We can’t furlough until then and if they open it will be tough going.

Oily yes I can understand that re beauty treatments

Hairdressers and beauty salons seem to be opening up already in other countries.

I think there will be a huge demand for eating out once lockdown is lifted I agree, I'll be in the queue. I've been married for 49 years, my husband is disabled so can't cook/wash up/shop. I was sick of cooking, thinking what to have, getting the shopping, clearing up afterewards before lockdown but I'm heartily sick of it now. I'd be happy to pay more so that restaurants could have fewer tables and still make money.

Surely business will just have to adapt to the new normal?

Including permanent closure

To counter the "I'll never eat out again unless there's a vaccine" viewpoint - I've fucking had enough of eating my own crap cooking. We used to eat out a couple of times a week pre-lockdown, I would love to go back to that.

I'm past being scared. I'm in need of boozy lunches, fancy breakfasts and delicate desserts a million calories a mouthful.