To not understand why Harvester STILL have restrictions 'for Covid' ?

[gvdv]

We're going out for a family birthday this weekend to our local Harvester. Whilst I appreciate it may not be everyone's choice, for those of us going it suits us well, everyone likes something on the menu and we feel it's reasonably good value.

However in just speaking to a colleague who went last week, she informs me that the restrictions introduced during Covid are inexplicably still in place, and you have to have someone serving your salad at the (serve yourself) salad bar...!

I mean what is the point of this? We have zero restrictions now elsewhere aside from in a medical setting. I just don't get it. I'm quite particular about how I arrange my salad, as I'm sure are others, and having someone dish it up for you just isn't the same!

Exactly this! The numbers are only dropping because we've stopped testing (because they're not free anymore).

To be honest though, I wouldn't be sad to see the back of buffet style dining. I've always thought it was unhygienic, everyone touching the same utensils and in some cases poking their fingers in food (mostly kids, but some adults who should definitely behave better).

I agree with you OP. I like my salad 'just so', in the right order with the right amount of dressing

All these supposed covid restrictions are now just a way to save money on staff etc
Like rooms not being serviced, fucking annoying and no real evidence to support.
Also phoning companies that 'due to covid are busy right now'

Dear god I worked right through the pandemic, it's been 2 years, get your shit together!!!

Seems weird as Toby’s you can help yourself to veg and potatoes gravy etx

the beefeater we went to the other week we helped ourselves as did the premier inn

so May not be all of them

havent tried harvester recently though

I agree with OP ( and I never been at Harvester, I hate serve yourself places) It’s about consistency and sincerity. I know Covid is still out there and I don’t mind certain measures but a lot of existing restrictions look like an excuse rather then a real prevention measure.
By the way some people have sensory issues and need their food to be arranged on a plate in a certain way e.g items not touching each other. These people want to go out with families and friends and enjoy life and now they can’t. And don’t tell me that they can ask a waiter because the point is that you arrange your food in very particular way quietly yourself (or a parent do it for a child) without any fuss or additional attention.

I've never used a salad bar since I read a report from Environment Health about what they found in one. The fecal coliform was the final nail in the coffin, I have no desire to eat other people's poo.

In my experience lots of organisations have retained covid related measures as it suits them / supports their business aims. Our local pool used to be just turn up now you have to book a slot and they've reduced numbers of swimmers. Not much you can do about it!

We still have to have an appointment at the tip, I love it, no more queues and you can usually get an appointment for the next day or sometimes the same day. Same day less likely at weekends to be fair.

It’s a cost saving measure. Staff fill up the salad bowls for you and you only get a limited amount, rather than letting customers do it who will pile their bowls high full of salad, and then come back for more. Covid is a convenient excuse for this, but it’s wearing a bit thin now.

But they still fill your bowl up if you ask
And you can go back for another bowl
So I don't see what benefit it is to them

Good , I may try a Harvester now

Not this old chestnut again😱

Thing is people would complain regardless of the reason.

COVID has presumably made them see that they can save money that way. But had there been no COVID and the company had simply announced they would be removing self service buffets there would almost certainly be people complaining that they were simply doing it for money, and these companies are all about the profit and not the customers.

Similar to the changing rooms. I suspect that not having changing rooms has made it easier on some stores re cleaning etc. I’ve read some absolute horror stories about what’s been found in changing rooms after people have used them, maybe not having to deal with that has made shops rethink their policies.

It’s also possible that some shops will be holding off until next year to see whether the winter has a negative impact on the COVID numbers which would force them to re-introduce the measures. Easier to keep them going and withdrawing them once we know that things are constantly improving, than having to re-introduce them if we end up with more restrictions, and facing the abuse from customers about how “you managed to have changing rooms open in the summer.”

OP, I think spending your money elsewhere may be a good idea. If you like salad, I suggest a (reasonably priced) Greek restaurant.

I was clothes shopping last summer and the chatty lady told me the reason they still had their fitting rooms closed was because the business had found people were much more likely to spend more £££. You buy it and take it home and then can’t be asked to take it back if it doesn’t fit…oh it was only £20…etc. Put me right off clothes shopping!

If this is real then then I am sorry for your loss. But I can't see how a booking system for a tip, or someone else spooning on your salad has save/will save a single life. That shit is pure theatre. Its vaccines and better treatment that is saving people, not one way arrows or stupid dirty bits of cloth over your face.

This. I stayed in many PI for work ore covid and only 1 had a buffet for hot food. The rest always was waitress service.

Our local children’s centre is still restricting bookings because of covid. Previously it was a turn up type class now you must book and only so many places are allocated despite the session being a “drop in” and 3 hours long. So only 20 kids are booked on but 5 could turn up and be gone before another 5 arrive meaning it’s never at “capacity” anyway. Staff can’t give a straight answer why it’s because of covid, and they don’t even clean the toys anyway (after spotting the same piece of caked on food 2 weeks in a row) so it’s not about infection control. Just laziness in my opinion as the staff don’t have to do as much

Absolutely. And no, you can’t, if you’re a normal person, keep coming back multiple times for tiny salad bowls.

The short answer is probably that every business is still legally obliged to risk assess and take reasonable measures to protect their staff and customers from Covid as well as other risks.

And as others have said, it works better for them...

Agree that many organisations are using “because COVID” as an excuse to do the things they want.

For example a few weeks ago I went on a business trip and stayed at a business type hotel.
No cleaning the rooms - because COVID.
The bar (which also served food) is shut - because COVID.
The gym is not available - because COVID.
No room service - because COVID.

If you want to change your business model to save costs don’t pretend this is still about COVID and please make clear up front when people book. I thought I was getting a certain level of facilities available from the website, I didn’t and this was pretty inconvenient.

You aren't supposed to touch the bread either. It is frustrating but please don't take it out on the staff, this policy came from higher up and not one single member of staff in the building (including managers) can do anything about it. I've seen some horrific attitudes thrown at staff who are just doing their jobs, the person doing the salad is usually under 18 as well (not that anyone should be sworn at or shouted at or made to feel small!).

Also if you want more just tell them! They will put more in - if you want your salad a certain way in a certain order just say so.

Watch this documentary about a massive buffet restaurant and the amount of food waste it generates. It is sickening the amount of food binned because greedy bastards can't control themselves. They fill up their plates because they want to get their money's worth. Then they struggle to finish it so the Harvester is doing the right thing by controlling portions. Global buffet documentary

Premier Inn have always varied on the hot breakfast buffet depending on site. Some have always been to order and others an open one. It’s probably more to do with their footfall than covid.

Quite.

We went a couple of weeks ago. We found it quite expensive...£75 for a family of four...only dh had an alcoholic drink and puddings just for the kids. The salad bar was being manned by a staff member...I'd have preferred to serve myself. I can understand why hotels are still careful with buffets because you don't want an outbreak in a hotel but I have no idea why restaurants are still doing this

I doubt the food savings on salad will be greater than the cost of an employee.

I think it's fine, there is less waste and its more hygienic. Loads of people don't wash their hands, ignore the 48 hour rule after sickness bugs etc, I'd much rather not have to touch something that hundreds of other people have already touched that day.

If you want more of a certain item or it arranged in a certain way, just tell them?