To think we shouldn't have been questioned about our method of transport

[Johnmenses]

I'd booked a meal tonight in a tier 2 restaurant. One bubble. This was clarified when I'd phoned earlier in week.

We arrived in 4 cars for various reasons.

The Front of house politely questioned how we could come 4 cars and still be in one bubble.

I have utmost of respect for the work hospitality staff do (I work similarly) but it's not their role to police our journeys.

AIBU?

They sound like jobsworths to me

Jobsworths for trying to avoid a £10000 fine.

@SallyTheSloth

I thought a support bubble can only have up to 3 adults (the adult living alone + another adult/couple) and a single household is pretty unlikely to have 4 adults in it so I can see why they asked.

There's no limit on the number of adults in a bubble as long as one of them is a single adult.

Given how many people live at home for longer now there will be a lot of bubbles with more than 3 adults.

Ours had 7 until the teens went off to Uni, but we are a big family.

How on earth do you know the other table weren't in a bubble?

I thought a support bubble can only have up to 3 adults

Why? The house opposite us has 5 adults in (parents and 3 sons in late teens and early 20’s). They have 5 cars (and luckily a huge drive)! Their grandmother is also in a support bubble with them (she lives alone), so 6 adults in a support bubble.

The other table was 2 couples together chatting about renovations ongoing on their houses. It was obvious from the loud conversation that they lived separately. So I believe that they can't be from a single bubble?

Did the folk on the table next to you turn up in several cars?

Out of interest, why would one bubble need to go out to dinner in four cars? Can you explain this set up?
I'm with other posters who say that the restaurant was trying hard to not break the law.

@DianaT1969

OP, if I was thirteen years old and booked a table in the pub. Turned up with my classmates expecting all expecting to be served vodka cocktails, why should staff question me if I already confirmed over the phone that I was over 18? How very dare they.

@DianaT1969 well because drinking under 18 is a well established offence.

Stasi powers handed out to restaurants are more worrisome

I assume that the OP and her family members met for a meal after work, and each arrived in their own cars coming straight from work before then going home (to the same home!) afterwards. Possibly OP, husband and late teens/early 20s offspring and a single adult from another household such as a MIL.

@1Morewineplease

Out of interest, why would one bubble need to go out to dinner in four cars? Can you explain this set up? I'm with other posters who say that the restaurant was trying hard to not break the law.

All coming from their respective workplaces to meet?

I think you're all probably right tbh, just was taken aback slightly at being questioned when it had been confirmed very specifically a few dats before. Never mind it's all over now .

Other table of 4 came in one car

My council is hiring people at 20,000 a year as covid marshals this would be fine if there regular administration staff weren't being paid 10,000 (approx) a year 🙄

Someone gets asked why one household arrive in 4 separate vehicles to double check that the restaurant are not putting themselves at risk of breaking the law and dealing with the concequences of that and we've had the Stasi mentioned twice?
Overreaction much 🙄

People have gotten away with demanding unreasonable things for too long, and getting them all in the name of customer service. Now there's real and heavy concequences for it and venue's are sticking to their guns look at all the feet stamping and it's not fair bollocks.
People seem to be under the impression that customer service overrides the law 🤦

Id be a bit cheesed off that they doubted me when I’d already said we were one bubble

But I certainly wouldnt complain about it as obviously they need to cover themSelves

I was asked was dd 18 and i looked at dd so she could answer for herself and she just looked blankly at the woman so when i said ‘ yes she is’ the woman obviously thought i was lying. And yes i was a bit irritated cos id already told them she was 18! But again i didnt complain as she was just doing her job

@GirlCrush Absolutely. I work in a public environment that requires a mask for all those -staff and customers- able to wear one. A customer came in last week with their mask around their neck. When asked by the staff member to please put their mask on their reply was "Why? There is no one else here." Errr, what about the staff member who was standing right there talking! It makes me so cross. People think if they want to bend the rules that staff don't count for anything.

Slight tangent OP, sorry. I appreciate you weren't breaking the rules. Staff are getting fed up with being ignored and asking more questions possibly.

@CokeEnStock

How can one household need 4 cars?

My neighbours have 4 cars: mum/dad/child1/child2.

It's not that unusual is it? Maybe it depends where you live.

need is another issue but I suppose if all 4 work in different locations

People have gotten away with demanding unreasonable things for too long, and getting them all in the name of customer service

What sort of unreasonable things?

Meh. They didn’t police your transport choices, they enquired politely (as you said yourself) because your one bubble arrived in 4 cars. I’d be suspicious too. I don’t blame them for being cautious- who can afford a massive fine at the best of times let alone right now?

YABU. they did the right thing. Shame you had an issue with it.

It's not personal, they're covering their arses because they could get fined for it.

I think YABU as you've recognised.

Even if I had confirmed over the phone, four cars would immediately make me think there had been a misunderstanding. It's perfectly reasonable to politely ask a question to confirm.

• My neighbours have 4 cars: mum/dad/child1/child2.

It's not that unusual is it? Maybe it depends where you live.*

But if they were all going to the same place they wouldn’t take all four cars would they?

But if they were all going to the same place they wouldn’t take all four cars would they?

They would if they were all coming from different places. Work, for example.

Park out of sight of restaurant staff next time.