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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

132 replies

Jourdain11 · 05/08/2020 09:47

... 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 Wink

OP posts:
BatShite · 05/08/2020 12:36

My cousin owns a bar, and he has huge queues outside (or did on the hotter days) so it might have looked like it was packed. But the reason for the queue was because he is running at just under 50% occupancy, so that people can distance effectively. Seems to be like that with the few bars round here. Doing much better than I thought, though of course a few will be taking the piss..

justasking111 · 05/08/2020 12:51

Reading these threads saying my mate in Coventry said her pub was packed, my mate in Glasgow said her pub was packed, my mate in Cardiff said her pub was packed. All anecdotal, lacking evidence so absolutely bloody pointless, oh and not a photo to be seen. Anyone can stir the pot.

Oneandabean · 05/08/2020 12:51

@FinnyStory I don’t know what the pubs by you are like but I’ve never been to one that doesn’t have windows, and all of them by me you can see in to from the street

cologne4711 · 05/08/2020 12:57

I don't know if pubs are rammed but I do know that people are not following the rules and the pubs are not enforcing them. I went to one for a meal with my mum a few weeks ago. We were sat at a table near the bar and someone came up to the bar to get drinks for outside. It was quite a few drinks so he was there for a good five minutes. He should not have been there, and the bar staff should have told him to go outside again and wait for them to come to him, but they didn't.

The other day I walked past a local pub and saw people standing at the bar.

Staplemaple · 05/08/2020 13:05

Pubs here have been limiting numbers effectively, and even for just drinks the busiest has been taking bookings rather than having queues. The pubs who can't be bothered and are just letting however many in are the issue.

justasking111 · 05/08/2020 13:06

@cologne4711

I don't know if pubs are rammed but I do know that people are not following the rules and the pubs are not enforcing them. I went to one for a meal with my mum a few weeks ago. We were sat at a table near the bar and someone came up to the bar to get drinks for outside. It was quite a few drinks so he was there for a good five minutes. He should not have been there, and the bar staff should have told him to go outside again and wait for them to come to him, but they didn't.

The other day I walked past a local pub and saw people standing at the bar.

You were inside a pub a few weeks ago, well then you were breaking the rules too!! Sorry do not believe a pub was open a few weeks ago.
nettie434 · 05/08/2020 13:09

I don't know how many pubs are rammed as I've only been in one myself and walked past another. The one I went in was empty and they took my phone details. The one I walked past was summer evening busy but most people were sitting at a safe distance in the courtyard. However, it's just been on the news that pubs in Aberdeen are being closed because several are linked to community transmission of coronavirus.

There are thousands of pubs in the UK. They range hugely in terms of their ownership and clientele. So it's not surprising that some are rammed and some aren't. Central London pubs are no indicator of the rest of the country as many were generally frequented by commuters. The Leicester Square/Old Compton Street bars are more aimed at people coming in for a night out.

notreallybotheredaboutausernam · 05/08/2020 13:11

@tiredanddangerous

I'm judging it by the size of the queue outside when I walk past. Presumably it's full if people are queuing outside to get in.
yes, it's because they're full - but "full" means the available tables are taken as there are very few of them.
Stellakent · 05/08/2020 13:14

I'm in London. All of the local pubs I've visited have procedures in place, tables only/ no standing, well organised. It all makes for a very pleasant experience.

CoffeeandPastries · 05/08/2020 13:16

Some are, some aren't.

Dp and I went out for a meal a couple of weeks ago - first time since lockdown and the restaurant we were in was taking all the necessary precautions. No menus (you were asked to photograph them or go online) all staff were wearing visors, tables spaced out a bit and we were told to use handsaitiser when arriving and leaving. It was absolutely lovely. Felt so good to be out!

However, when we left, we noticed the pub opposite was heaving. Some were sat outside, but you could see through the window that it was rammed inside and there was no social distancing happening whatsoever.

We also went to a beer garden the other day. Not our local, but not far and think there had been a funeral, as everyone was mostly wearing black and were clearly drunk. There were loads of people and they were all over each other. All crammed round tables, hugging, arms draped over shoulders etc. Not in a comforting way, purely in a 'had way too much to drink so SD has gone completely out the window' way.

We were sat quite far away, but if we had been inside and seen that, we would have left straight away.

It is happening, OP. Just not everywhere.

MellowMelly · 05/08/2020 13:18

I walk past my local, it was rammed and they were still hosting their disco night which meant everyone was up and dancing together.

Oneandabean · 05/08/2020 13:19

@justasking111 pubs reopened on 4th July, so they were open a few weeks ago.

NameChange84 · 05/08/2020 13:22

How do I know?

I live directly opposite one and round the corner from a further two. They’ve got large windows and all have beer gardens. It’s very, very obvious that they are heaving and that people are not social distancing.

One has since been closed down by the council following an outbreak related to it and their inability to ensure social distancing and contact tracing.

LadyOfTheImprovisedBath · 05/08/2020 13:22

@justasking111

Reading these threads saying my mate in Coventry said her pub was packed, my mate in Glasgow said her pub was packed, my mate in Cardiff said her pub was packed. All anecdotal, lacking evidence so absolutely bloody pointless, oh and not a photo to be seen. Anyone can stir the pot.
www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2020/07/24/How-are-pubs-sales-after-lockdown

bit of of date but talk of 70% normal trading two weeks after being allowed to open - but not uniform.

www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/pubs-restaurants-england-trade-half-former-level-a4494351.html
Trading at around 55 per cent of pre-Covid norms may seem a disappointing result, and it won’t be profitable for operators, but it is very much in line with what we have seen in other markets,” said Karl Chessell, director of CGA, the consultancy that produces the data with the Coffer Group and RSM.

...
UK pubs which rely on alcohol sales for revenue have warned that they risk being forced to close

So people are going out to pubs but I expect "crowded" locations now look different to pre covid crowded as everyone's perceptions have changed.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 05/08/2020 13:26

Pre-covid we would visit the pub once or twice a week and I really thought we would be keen to get back, but we haven't.
Partly due to the track and trace thing, but we don't feel like spending the money, especially as our already expensive local has increased its prices.

MrsJBaptiste · 05/08/2020 13:26

We've been away so been in a lot of pubs over the last week. All of them have had excellent measures in place for social distancing and track and trace systems. Not one of them was jam packed - one small bar only had 8 people in and it was full having to turn customers away.

justasking111 · 05/08/2020 13:34

If you see a queue it is because the establishment is saying wait here until others leave. Which is sensible.

Cadent · 05/08/2020 13:42

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"?

I can even see into some pubs whilst I am driving by. I must have amazing vision I really don't

museumum · 05/08/2020 13:47

We've been to one pub, sat outside, ordered via their website from a QR code on the table. Drinks brought to us. Masks on to go in for the toilet and sanitiser at the door, although a few tables were available inside they were empty and everybody was outside.

cologne4711 · 05/08/2020 13:55

You were inside a pub a few weeks ago, well then you were breaking the rules too!! Sorry do not believe a pub was open a few weeks ago

? What do you mean? They've been allowed to open since July 4th (in England) and I was in one around 13th.

I was not breaking any rules.

jay55 · 05/08/2020 17:04

I've been past the pubs in Borough on a Friday night and a Tuesday night, drinkers all over the street everywhere. Incredibly busy.

mornington27 · 05/08/2020 17:06

I have walked past some or been on a bus past some that have been fairly full.

It will also not be nice to be outside once it gets colder in the evenings, so making social distancing less likely.

Hopoindown31 · 05/08/2020 17:23

I see regular breaches of social distancing all the time both in the pubs I walk past, shops, parks etc. Lots of people seem to have no ability to judge and stay either 2m apart or 1m apart (in a mask). The number of maskless people who try and hand me things at the door is crazy.

Hardbackwriter · 05/08/2020 17:28

@Cadent

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"?

I can even see into some pubs whilst I am driving by. I must have amazing vision I really don't

If you're counting the people inside pubs, as that poster claimed to be able to do, while driving by then you need to get your eyes back on the road
Cadent · 05/08/2020 17:42

@Hardbackwriter if you can't see that my post said nothing about counting the people inside pubs then you need to go to Speccies.