Going to restaurant /pub with another household

[RichardMarxisinnocent]

I had initially assumed that if people from two households went to a restaurant or pub together they would need to sit on separate, adjacent tables in order to maintain social distancing. I was envisaging needing to ask for "two tables for one, next to each other please" or "a table for 4 and a table for one."

However having read the FAQs on gov.uk it doesn't say anything about separate tables, it just says you should ensure that you socially distance as much as possible, and to bear this in mind when choosing where to sit at the table. It also mentions that premises should help with this. Do people think that restaurants etc will be able and willing to accommodate this? For example will 2 people be able to sit on a larger table than a small table for two to allow them to be far enough apart? Will a family of 4 plus 2 grandparents be able to be on table for 8?

Im single so desperate to see people more. I imagine sitting at a table with them is fine if I'm opposite. Easier to social distance with just 2 people though rather than with a bugger group though.

You can meet and sit with who you like. It's a pub.

We are encouraging people to pre book. Considering the restricted covers I know none of the managers I work with would be happy to give away a table with wasted seats. That's just throwing money away.

@Discobar

You can meet and sit with who you like. It's a pub.

Well yes you can, if you want to ignore all the social distancing guidelines. Those of us who would like to get back to socialising whilst also abiding by the guidelines would like to know how possible it is going be.

@Hugglespuffed

Im single so desperate to see people more. I imagine sitting at a table with them is fine if I'm opposite. Easier to social distance with just 2 people though rather than with a bugger group though.

I am not convinced that many of the tables for 2 which I have sat at would allow people to be far enough apart. Sitting diagonally at a table for 4 would work I think.

1 metre really isn't that far

@AskingforaBaskin

We are encouraging people to pre book. Considering the restricted covers I know none of the managers I work with would be happy to give away a table with wasted seats. That's just throwing money away.

The desire not to have wasted seats was my concern. Do you know how they are planning to handle 2 different households eating together? I would be fine with sitting at separate adjacent tables if that works better for the pub /restaurant.

People will be able to book a table for 4, even if all from different households. It doesn't matter

I think that only two households are allowed to meet to dine together?

Should have said outside tables- anything goes, inside it's two households yeah

This shows it

@Discobar

1 metre really isn't that far

It's only 1 metre if there are mitigation measures, such as face masks, screens, sitting side by side instead of face to face. My dining table is less than 1 metre wide so I would be too close to someone sitting opposite me at it.

The desire not to have wasted seats was my concern. Do you know how they are planning to handle 2 different households eating together? I would be fine with sitting at separate adjacent tables if that works better for the pub /restaurant.

It's not really their problem. If you're booking for a part of 4 you will be sat at a table of 4.
If you book 2 tables of 2 then you could be anywhere in the venue.

The gov.uk guidelines say "you should think about where to sit at a table with this [social distancing] in mind - the premises should also take reasonable steps to help you do so in line with COVID secure guidelines". Which does make it sort of their problem (though I appreciate they probably don't need extra things like that to be thinking about)

And they do. Each table now taken into consideration the 1m+ rule.
But they don't have to accommodate your seating requests.
At the end of the day they will prioritise money.
If they're busy they will make sure seats are filled as much as possible weighing restrictions.

Remember any venue reserves the right to refuse service at anytime.

Sorry should have been clearer, the bit I posted is from the FAQ specifically about eating out with people from another household. It seems to suggest being at the same table is fine, but you need to social distance from the other household and the premises should help you to do so. Does each table have 1m plus between the chairs? Or are you meaning 1m plus between each table?

I am lucky in that I have 1 person in my support bubble that I can go to a restaurant with as normal (though I would love to be able to go with other friends too). But people who have no support bubble who want to eat with friends or family from a different household could be a bit stuffed.

It's between each table.

If you're sat around one table, the "households" must be 2m from each other. I guess pubs will do the 1m plus thing, but that really needs to be done in conjunction with other mitigation methods such as wearing a mask, not facing each other etc.

DH and I have decided we will not be returning to the pub just yet!