Aibu to ask where I should meet visitor

[VentventVENT]

I have a family member coming from overseas at the weekend. They are travelling from a country not on the quarantine list.
However they are stopping “up North” first (I don’t exactly know where) and then coming down to London to stay in a hotel.

I thought we could meet in a restaurant but now realise that’s not allowed. Nor is them coming to my home (and to be honest I don’t really want them to come here - it’s hassle).

But where on earth should I suggest? It’s going to be tipping down with rain as far as I know.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Have you got any parks with covered band stands where you can take a thermos of coffee/tea/desired hot drink each?

Find out if the hotel has a covered outdoor seating area? That would be okay. Or a restaurant with outdoor seating.

I did that last week - met friends at a local restaurant and we had to be seated outside. It had a removable roof (which possibly makes the difference to the 'rules') and patio heaters. Lots of other groups were doing the same. There were only a couple of tables occupied inside the restaurant

Coffee in the train station? The coffee bars will be under cover but ‘open’

Museum or art gallery. You’ll have to book but most are free to enter

@Wheytaminute ah that’s a good idea - we have a couple of nearby pubs with covered outdoor areas. Might be a bit nippy but probably more comfortable than “proper” outdoors.

Weather forecast for London at the weekend looks pretty good, doesn't look like 'tipping down with rain' to me.

Cloudy on Saturday and showery at worst on Sunday - the BBC is pretty conservative on rainfall, so them saying 20% chance of rain usually equates to a completely dry day.

I'd therefore suggest a walk in a convenient park or along the river with food and drink at a food van.

@alongtimeagoandfaraway

Museum or art gallery. You’ll have to book but most are free to enter

But can only go there with a member of your own household or support bubble?

It has to be outside.

I agree, I thought London was in the 'it is illegal to meet people from other households indoors' category now?

@BarbaraofSeville ah that’s better - iPhone was a little less optimistic!

I thought in tier 2 you couldn't meet in an indoor or outdoor venue?

Yes has to be outdoors and most confess I didn’t think this was the case until I read it properly
. until this visit was suddenly mentioned it made no odds to me as wasn’t planning on going to meet anyone anytime soon anyways.

I thought all restaurants and pubs had to shut in London.... Or did I get that wrong?

With outdoor venue being Eg pub beer garden, hotel outdoor seating area

For those asking - tier 2. Pubs etc all open but you can only go with your household or support bubble. You can meet outdoors (including your garden).

@StealthPolarBear tier 2 you can only meet people out of your household/bubble outdoors in max of groups of 6.

@StealthPolarBear outdoors includes outdoor seating of pubs and cafes ect.

I'm tier 2. There were groups of 6 outside huddled under cover with patio heaters at the pub for hours.

If you’re going to meet outdoors in a pub/restaurant with heaters/slightly covered area try to book in advance. This weekend (in London) the tables have been almost completely full everywhere we’ve been, best to avoid disappointment if you’re with overseas guests.
Another option (although there’s limited heaters) is the street seating in SoHo on the street where Hoppers and Rasa Sayang is

@lurker101 that’s a good point. We aren’t actually going into central London (staying local in zone 3) but that’s probably worse as I can only think of two places with outdoor areas that are heated.

My other thought was - a place we often take them when they visit (about ten miles away) is still tier 3. Bit on the ethics of that - though it’s somewhere we often go.

So what does 'outdoor venues' mean then?

@StealthPolarBear well I assume parks, outdoor seating areas etc.

I'm sure on the original bbc thing I read it said outdoor venues were banned in tier two. I was at the time trying to work out how we could meet family. I assumed outdoor venues meant Eg pub beer gardens.

Apologies, it doesn't say that on gov. UK. Ignore me.

@StealthPolarBear nope read it about ten times now. You can meet “outdoors” in a group of up to six. This includes your garden.
You can only go to indoor venues with your household/support bubble.