How do you know that the pubs are "jam packed"?

[Jourdain11]

... unless you've been in them yourself? Otherwise, isn't it just anecdotal and likely to be exaggerated?

I was speaking to a friend who has been for drinks a few times in central London, and he said that it has been pretty quiet each time and most people are sitting outdoors, etc. But because of the pics of Old Compton St on the first night, everyone reckons it has been packed ever since!

Of course, if you've been in them and they are jam packed, then you're one of the people jam packing them

We went to a local venue where there were 2 rooms with the bar accessible from each room. The one room was full of locals sitting around tables in mixed household groups. There was one free table in that room which we opted not to sit at. We went into the other room with 1 friend whom we sat 2m apart from the whole time. In the 2 hours we were there no one else joined us in that spacious room, (a couple of people popped in for a distanced chat but not to sit in there) instead choosing to be crammed into the other one where the banter was! We commented that it was as if nothing had ever happened - it was just like a normal day/night in there. But in all honesty some of them have been blatantly breaking the rules throughout lockdown so no great surprise really.

This busy enough for you? Bar in photo has voluntarily closed it doors after someone who tested positive linked to a cluster of cases in another local bar also visited there.

Some are rammed full. Some aren't.

How to tell the difference? Walk into one and straight back out if it's too full for your liking. Walk past and glance in through the windows.

It's pretty easy, although your OP makes it look as if it's beyond your capability to make an assessment.

So they've voluntarily recognised they got it wrong and taken action? That's a good thing, right?

Some are packed out some aren't. Some are managing the changes very well but others aren't.

One of the pubs local to me is packed out on weekend nights. I know this because I've walked past, my friend lives behind the pub and can see/hear and I know one of the bar maids. She is really stressed about it but the landlord just wont listen.

Why on earth would I need to do that? I have perfectly good eyesight. Do you assume no one can see inside a building unless they are "literally stood with their nose pressed against the glass"? confused grin

At the point that you're counting people inside you're not really just 'looking inside a building', though, are you? That's not a casual glance, it's a bit weird level of staring.

My neighbour runs a pub. She's working flat-out.

That's how I know.

@ReggieCat

Some are rammed full. Some aren't.

How to tell the difference? Walk into one and straight back out if it's too full for your liking. Walk past and glance in through the windows.

It's pretty easy, although your OP makes it look as if it's beyond your capability to make an assessment.

What do you mean by that? That's pretty rude and unnecessarily so, I feel.

OP it doesn't mean all pubs are full. But myself and several other posters have driven by/walked by pubs where there were too many people clearly not adhering to social distancing rules.

I drove past a pub during the football match (Arsenal vs Chelsea) and not only it had too many people but they were cheering loudly and chanting so I can only imagine the amount of saliva droplets in that place

I've been to a couple of local pubs and 1 at a seaside and none have been packed because they all had strict rules and social distancing in place. My dh has been to a few different ones to me and they've been the same.

@FinnyStory

So they've voluntarily recognised they got it wrong and taken action? That's a good thing, right?

Of course it’s a good thing, just a shame it didn’t happen before being shamed on social media. A lot of other bars in the city - some with no links to the cluster have also decided to shut which is a great thing. It’s just unfortunate that a cluster of 27 cases have been traced back to a different bar - who are also shut and were very upfront on social media when it was revealed.

I think locally a few are, and of course those pictures are widely shared on social media. But the vast majority are definitely quieter than normal and many have not reopened at all (yet).

The busy ones locally have ended up closed for a few days (in most cases due to false alarms). That is widely reported on social media too, so I'm hoping that the message is getting through that being in crowded pubs right now is not the best thing (although I sympathise with all business owners - I am one myself and the business has been almost dead since March). On the other hand we've had a couple of very pleasant meals out, not too busy, seemed pretty 'safe'.

All pubs aren't equal. Some are "nice family meal" places. Some are not so much.
Drinking pubs - stuffed, eating pubs - measured and controlled.

My son works at a drinking pub and he says there is no social distancing. The staff have actually complained about it from the day the pubs reopened. Last saturday night it got so bad that they had to close the pub at 10pm.. people crammed inside and out and drunken brawls kicking off.

The pub next door to this one, takes names at the door, shows you to a table and has a one way system in place.

I have only been for 1 drink so far and we were the only ones in there! Having said that we have walked past a few and from what I saw the y were busyish but people seemed to be behaving responsibly. I have read about odd pubs being packed but not seen it personally.

We stopped of for a drink on hot walk back in a usually very busy local - empty inside everyone sat at the distanced tables outside.

IL say simailr in their area - but I expect some pubs are packed out depending on the local demographic.

I’m on holiday at the moment and none of the bars are jam packed because it’s against the rules. Only a certain amount of people allowed in (both inside and in the beer gardens) queueing for a table whilst social distancing - which are spaced apart as per guidelines, no-one allowed to congregate at the bar (table service only). Nowhere has been rammed at all and this is a very busy holiday spot.

I have no idea where these packed out bars are - they can’t be sticking to the rules if it’s true and would surely be shut down?

Similar to other pps every single pub I've driven or walked past in my area is completely rammed full of people every time I pass midday to evening. They are not social distancing. The garden was full and the open windows all had people in them. No idea what it was like past the windows though.

people crammed inside and out and drunken brawls kicking off

Just reading this - this is the fault of the pub though surely. If they can’t be bothered getting proper systems in place and reducing the number of people allowed in and having staff manning the doors etc. they are asking for trouble and also face being shut down if someone from the council visits.

Are pubs allowing walkins? Our locals require a table booking even if you just want a drink

I don't know how busy they are, but I've been woken up in the middle of the night by loud drunken people walking back from pubs. I assume they don't sd or take any precautions.

Welsh pubs and restaurants ignoring Covid rules could be shut

We were walk-ins - DH went in to get drinks much less than 5 minutes back out sat and drank spaced outside - but reading this article should perhaps have asked for contact deatils anyway.

Ha. The pub thing reminds me of how many were whinging about beaches.

'It was a nice day so we drove to the beach with the kids, but when we got there it was jam packed with idiots who are clearly not listening to the rules, so we tured around and came back. How selfish, for those people to all flock to the beach like that, making it unusable for people like me?! If this is how its going to be, then might aswell close the beaches' '

I think people take a guess from others posts/photos but you see the People saying 'just been to the pub/seaside/nandos/ and it was rammed! Do people not know there is a pandemic?' You are there too!!!

Been to 3 pubs locally, 2 absolutely fine, although busy outside were really quiet inside. Went into one gave my name and number at the entrance, walked in and it was absolutely packed! Walked out, not before a staff member followed us to the car park to ask why, we explained there was no SD and people were stood in crowds, tables close together, and the bar rammed with people on top of each other- he just shrugged.

Some will be fine and doing their best, others wont give a shit. I dont understand why people stay in them though!

All 3 allowed walk ins - 2 took our contact details. This is in zone 2/3 London.