Half price food... if you sit in?

[hjtip10]

Is this true? You can't take away! Is the government trying to spread covid twice as fast this month? 🤦🏻‍♀️

No it’s helping restaurants hit by the pandemic no need to help take always they could open throughout its sit in restaurants who took the hit and therefore those sections that are being provided with support.

Yes it was announced weeks ago by the chancellor as a way to support the hospitality industry. If you don't think it's a good idea, it's easy to avoid. Personally I'm happy to take advantage and enjoy some normality.

I agree OP. I would happily go get a Nandos to take away, but I'm not eating in. They'd be getting custom they wouldn't normally from me if the discount was available on take away, and they wouldn't have to clear up after me. But I'm not sitting in, and therefore I'm not planning on getting a Nandos anytime soon.

No of course they are not
They are trying to help business and stop them from going bust

The whole idea is to try and save the jobs of the restaurant staff.

I've been shielding, and we have not even been getting takeaways. I might stretch to a takeaway now and got something to eat for my son when were out and he was hungry (ate it outside) but I'm not going into a restaurant to eat any time soon.

@herecomesthsun

I've been shielding, and we have not even been getting takeaways. I might stretch to a takeaway now and got something to eat for my son when were out and he was hungry (ate it outside) but I'm not going into a restaurant to eat any time soon.

Which is your choice and nobody is being forced to eat in.

But take aways have been able to operate throughout, and many of them have done a roaring trade thankfully because they are the available option. The idea of this is to help the hospitality trade which have been hit massively the last few months

If you don't want to no one is forcing you. We did and it was lovely very normal

At shake shack they're putting all the food in to paper bags, eat in or takeaway so you can say eat in, get the discount then walk out with the food. Especially easy at branches with outside tables.

I take it you haven't actually been in many sit in places recently, without exception every place I've been or seen through the windows has massively changed to make them covid safe. OK my area might not be representative of the whole country but I know that the council is doing a lot of inspections to make sure procedures are being adhered to and no one is forced to go somewhere they don't feel is safe

We have been to a local coffee shop this morning and sat outside, it was ok but I very much didn't want to sit inside. I think it's a good option if you have somewhere with lots of space and good systems in place.

I am a waitress. Since the restaurant that I work in has been open (post lockdown) we have had a significant increase in takeaways and a significant decrease in dine in customers. Yes the restaurant is still making (just) enough money to stay afloat but they don't need as many servers on each shift.
The scheme is to encourage people to dine in so that people like me don't lose our jobs.

The government are trying to save the economy.

OP, it is half price food (up to a maximum of £10 discount per person) on meals in participating restaurants and cafes on Mondays-Wednesdays only during August. It doesn't apply to alcohol or businesses that choose not to participate.

Take away businesses have not been hit as hard by restrictions, if anything many have probably capitalised from them. My local take always never closed.

Restaurants and pubs have been hit much harder because they are indoors

This is about helping businesses, not the customer

It’s a completely fruitless. No, jobs won’t be saved when restaurants and pubs have to close again due to increased transmission. And close they will in the autumn/winter months, if it’s a choice between them or schools.

is this true have you been hiding under a rock lately? The scheme was announced weeks ago.

I've been to quite a few pubs and restaurants and every single one hasd excellent systems in place to reduce transmission. Some of the apps are really good as well and have actually improved the experience of casual dining/chains (although I worry the impact this might have on jobs).

I recommend people leave their homes for a few minutes and at least visit some places to look in windows etc. to see how different they are.

Don't be daft. Most restaurants have removed half the tables and put in one way systems and other measures to protect people. One near me has bought loads of domes to sit in so you are completely isolated from everyone except the waitress that serves you.

A restaurant by us that were taking booking last week and really pushing the eat out to help out campaign have announced yesterday they’re closing for a few weeks as one of the waitress has tested positive for Covid.

Now there’s panic on their Facebook page with people asking if they need to self isolate as they have been eating there. Others are worried as they were there and came into contact with the waitress but they’re caring for shielding ones...it just seems very messy.
I think there will be a rise of this happening at other restaurants.

Look at example 2 - how the virus spreads in a restaurant:

english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-06-17/an-analysis-of-three-covid-19-outbreaks-how-they-happened-and-how-they-can-be-avoided.html

One way systems and distancing of tables is largely pointless if there are other factors in play.

See, I really do sympathise with people working in hospitality (lot of cooks/ chefs in our family) but the science says that people sharing space indoors carries risk. The challenge is to find a way around this so that the people continue to have jobs (maybe slightly different jobs or in venues with outdoor seating or whatever). Incentivising people to go and sit indoors together, even with some extra sanitary arrangements, doesn't seem in itself like a great idea to me.

Incentivising people to go and sit indoors together, even with some extra sanitary arrangements, doesn't seem in itself like a great idea to me

I agree. I am happy to sit outside but I'm not eating inside at the moment.

Went to the pub last night and had a fabulous time with good friends. As there were 6 of us we had to sit outside, which was no problem. Will be going to many more places during August.

@Parky04

Went to the pub last night and had a fabulous time with good friends. As there were 6 of us we had to sit outside, which was no problem. Will be going to many more places during August.

I’m assuming you’re happy to self isolate at home for two weeks if one of the six friends tests positive? If so, good for you.

Not sarcastic, just curious if people are happy to accept the consequences of not following the guidelines.

Five*