Is this actually allowed?

[BellCurve]

I'm planning our wedding next year and I've just had a venue invite us to look around today or tomorrow. AIBU to be surprised at this?

I assumed that this wasn't allowed during lockdown, but they've just said to wear masks.

I mean, it's probably less risky than it will be straight after lockdown because there'll be no-one using the restaurant, less guests etc, but still, I didn't think this would be allowed.

So you are facilitating the breaking of lockdown rules for something as frivolous and extremely non-essential as talking about centrepieces and wedding music.
I hope you're proud of yourself. You shouldn't be.

I'm not breaking lockdown rules. At the risk of repeating myself, we are permitted to keep the business open. By doing so we can pay our staff and they can feed their families. I'm happy with that. You're entitled to be suitably outraged. It won't make a difference this end though, so perhaps best to focus your 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' elsewhere.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

This applies to the rest of your life also.

Congratulations.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Well of course it doesn't. We're doing it to keep people in jobs! What an arsehole I clearly am for caring about my colleagues.

unnecessary risk. Get them to walk round doing a video tour on their phone. That way they can conduct business and everyone stays safe. Job done.

our NHS is overwhelmed NOW. The fewer infections, the fewer people risking gasping to death without care. The less travelling, the less risk of any other accident which could also leave you without care.

@galaxy9

I’m a wedding planner and there is no way I’d be doing show rounds at the moment. It doesn’t make the company look good and it’s extremely unprofessional- just an unnecessary mixing of people?

Bravo to this attitude. Anything that isn’t medical necessity, essential travel or daily exercise and you should stay at home. Or people die. It sounds dramatic and clear cut. Because it is.

I'm pretty sure one of the accepted reasons you can leave home is to use or buy from a business that is open.

It sounds dramatic and clear cut. Because it is.

Any thoughts about what comes after all this? What is clear cut is that the country will come to its needs if we all shut our businesses down.

sorry no, it isn't. People also die for many many many other reasons, a lot of them related to lockdown rules and the loss of jobs, income and human contact it has entailed. If you feel you can completely isolate yourself within whatever work / family bubble you have and remain solvent and sane then that is lovely, but an awful lot of people can't. This particular example is about a business keeping going. The OP could choose not to go, and not to book, and in 6 months, the venue will have ceased trading with all the knock-on effects that will have on the staff, caterers etc. Covid IS NOT the only thing that endangers us and this particular activity is extremely low risk for a "pay off" of keeping people employed.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

It sounds dramatic and clear cut. Because it is.

Any thoughts about what comes after all this? What is clear cut is that the country will come to its needs if we all shut our businesses down.

The reply was to whether OP should leave home, being the question that was asked.

@FrackOffMrBubbles

Just because somehting is allowed to open doesn't mean you are allowed to go there

I can understand why this would blur the lines as to what was allowed or not. It's pretty fucking daft isn't it to allow businesses to open that people aren't actually allowed to use.

Definitely!

Obviously responsible employers would have staff WFH & NOT inviting clients in, but I guess the desperate ones are trying to lock people in to bookings/sales & have more success in person.

They shouldn't be permitted to open & they should be financially assisted.

It wouldn't be allowed in Ireland anyway during a full Lock down

@BellCurve If the venue is open, and you wear masks, then I see no harm in going to look. As many posters have said, businesses are struggling, and do need the custom. If you can go, and it's 'allowed' (with the required social distancing and masks,) then go.

@bobbojobbo Your tone is so patronising and condescending, and you clearly think you're really clever and witty and funny (which you're not.)

You may be worth listening to sometimes, but the way you speak to people (on here,) makes me (and probably many others) want to disregard anything you say.

now it is generally difficult to plan for the future. The government is changing the guidelines for behavior. be overwhelmingly prepared for different layouts, but try to do everything you dream about

I'm not breaking lockdown rules. At the risk of repeating myself, we are permitted to keep the business open

But the customers you are showing around are not permitted to be there. So at the risk of repeating myself, you are facilitating others to break lockdown rules.
Your wedding venue business is not an essential even if we weren't in a pandemic, right now it could not be less important. If you're so concerned about your staff, furlough them and stop making them mix and putting them at risk of Covid,

Well this simpleton is off to work. Stay home doesn't apply to me.

@BellCurve, your response to the self-anointed Covid Police was inspired. I wouldn't have been nearly so forbearing or polite. It's nearly every thread.

As to the constant protestations of what movements you are or are not 'allowed', you are autonomous, adult citizens not subservient children. All sense of perspective and measured, considered judgement appears to have gone out of the window.

For legal restrictions, and the difference between set-in-stone law and guidance, I'd refer to the government websites. As far as guidance is concerned it's then for you to make your own considered judgement. It's for sure that as far as this subject is concerned, you're unlikely to see two rational words typed together on Mumsnet.

Nb. 'simpleton' is a good descriptor for people who are completely lacking in critical faculties and autonomous judgement. @Sparklingbrook doesn't appear to be one of these ...

I bet the OP, who simply seemed to be seeking clarification, wishes she'd never asked.

I cannot see how this can be slotted into a legal reason for leaving home.

I can see how the business can be allowed to "stay open" in that the workforce can attend the premises. Workers have to attend gyms, for example, to ensure the premises are secure, there are no leaks blah blah blah, and they could even repair or revamp the facilities. But I am sure they would not be permitted to allow a prospective member to come and view the premises. Might be worth a try though - they might even let me test a treadmill while I'm there.

It's certainly low risk, in my view, but am genuinely surprised it's been suggested.

Stay at home and no non-essential travel.

The venues could easily make a video for people to watch, or do an on-line live tour. Pushing the rules like this they deserve to be shut again.

The business is allowed to stay open unless they have been instructed to close.

But, just because they are open doesn't mean you are allowed to make a non essential journey. If you are approached by police (unlikely) are you confident saying your journey is essential? Saying they are open is not a defence.

Bobbojobbo how is it NOT contradictory? I wanted to buy a present. My local party shop is open for click and collect. They sell helium balloons, cake decorations, fancy dress etc. Clearly none of this is essential. So no-one is allowed to visit, but they are allowed to be open. To sell to whom? The fairies?!

But the customers you are showing around are not permitted to be there. So at the risk of repeating myself, you are facilitating others to break lockdown rules.
Your wedding venue business is not an essential even if we weren't in a pandemic, right now it could not be less important. If you're so concerned about your staff, furlough them and stop making them mix and putting them at risk of Covid

Hmmm, we're facilitating? Maybe. A bit like Heineken are facilitating alcoholics. And Cadburys are facilitating the obese. When all this is over, let's close the buggers down. We're open. We're running strict social distancing policies. Nobody has caught Covid.

The country simply cannot afford to close down all its 'non-essential' businesses. Who's gonna pay for the furlough? I never got a satisfactory answer to that.

So no-one is allowed to visit, but they are allowed to be open. To sell to whom? The fairies?!

Exactly.

I would've thought if weddings and funerals are still allowed to go ahead albeit in limited numbers then people are allowed to view where these will be potentially held rather than going in for first time on the actual ceremony and hoping for the best. It should just be a cursory look around though and not bringing the whole family inc. grandma, both mils and Auntie May to the vetting and obviously be carried out with just one member of venue staff and socially distanced and masked etc etc.

Saying they are open is not a defence.

Not sure, to be honest: I'm an accountant, not a lawyer. I suspect it may cause some interesting legal argument if a case were to be taken.

It’s fine! I’m trying to find a house to buy at the moment and have been to see heaps all through each lockdown!

I work at a nursery too and we offer viewings on weekends when we are closed

Has to be done - wedding venues are surely the same