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? 🤦🏻‍♀️

The idea is that if a restaurant is offering sit-in food service, it is only if they can do so in a "covid-secure" way. This should mean there is very limited risk in eating out, and the govt want to encourage it during the quiet times of Monday to Wednesday to help business, people who work there, and the wider economy.

In practice some places are great and have made things very safe, take lots of precautions, you can go at a quiet time and so on. Other options: if you're squeezing into the cramped seating area of a Pret at a busy lunchtime rush? Maybe not quite so "covid-secure"...

I've been to quite a few pubs and restaurants and every single one had excellent systems in place to reduce transmission

I agree and have been pleasantly surprised by the safety measures, especially in Wetherspoons.

Maybe an age thing but I actually prefer these places now and feel more relaxed in them.

It's the future and we just need to get used to it.

I think you're missing the whole point of this scheme . . .

A whole load of bars/restaurants here have voluntarily closed again today after a “cluster” of cases was linked to another venue in the city. It looks like track and trace (or whatever the correct name is) is working well, but I am seeing posts on social media from eg hairdressers asking anyone who has been in contact with the “cluster” to rebook their appointment.

I had actually booked lunch at a restaurant for me and DP this week, but have since cancelled. I don’t think I am at high risk if I did catch Covid, but would obviously rather not, plus the hassle of having to isolate, get a test etc.

@Redolent I’m wondering this too, if people are factoring in that they may have to quarantine for 2 weeks If someone they're with catches (or the restaurant closes due to) corona.
I’m pretty sure most are just thinking of the now (and cheap food) and not factoring in any consequence.

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.

You dont necessarily have to isolate though just because a friend in the group tests positive. They're outside so drastically reduces transmission and that friend might have been at the other end of the table so could be far enough away.

Anyway, the only way to avoid this scenario is to not see any friends and family at all...your choice which is fair enough if you want to do that but I doubt most will.

We ate out yesterday for the first time in a long time (in Wales, so places only opened yesterday). Our area has incredibly low rates of covid and of community transmission, so I feel like it's safe at the moment for us. It was lovely and meant my kids could go out and do something 'normal' after many months at home. We will probably do it most of August, as it seems like the winter is going to be one of being mostly at home again. I think it's a good scheme, and if it means that places can keep their employees and pay their bills for that bit longer, it may tide some of them over during the winter months when places like ice cream parlours etc are naturally quieter (we live near the coast) and hopefully our favourites will still be there next summer as a result.

Fine you don't want to go, no one is making you. I do and we are going tonight. I am not going to stop everything in case someone also there happens to test positive.

This ridiculous shaming that is going on needs to stop.

we ate outside in our local pub last night. Felt very safe, spaced out and high levels of hygiene. A little bit of normality was great.

We are only going to places with clear measures in place which are being followed. I am only going with people from my house anyway and keeping well distanced at the allocated table.

We went into one place at the weekend, we walked straight out because we weren’t happy with the measures in place.

When people do it in line with the guidance the risk level is pretty small. The issue comes with the places and people who don’t think it applies to them

Our first problem right now is a public health problem. Our second problem is an economic problem.

We can't sensibly put in place policy solutions for the economy that affect the health situation. Because a worsening health situation will affect the economy further.

Encouraging people to eat indoors right now is, imo, a bit counter productive, both for health and the economy.

My partner's business is at 0% takings btw, due to covid, so I do understand the jobs issue.

@MoreW1ne

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.

You dont necessarily have to isolate though just because a friend in the group tests positive. They're outside so drastically reduces transmission and that friend might have been at the other end of the table so could be far enough away.

Anyway, the only way to avoid this scenario is to not see any friends and family at all...your choice which is fair enough if you want to do that but I doubt most will.

Six friends sitting around a table - that’s the scenario I was describing. The rule is that you need to self-isolate if you’re within 2 metres of someone for 15 mins or longer.?Outdoor, indoor, irrespective. People can defy that all they like but please don’t try change the conditions for self-isolation according to test and trace.

You CAN meet friends in other conditions, especially now with decent summer weather.

I can't be bothered.
I did eat out the other day with my family, it was ok, but I am quite happy to spend my money on other things.
I feel for those in the hospitality industry, by they will bounce back, or adapt their business model.

Me and DD went to Starbucks today and sat in. It was nice if a little odd, all the tables had been moved to the sides of the room and spread out. There was a big open space in the middle to allow for queuing and movement to and from toilets.

It was very quiet and felt very safe.

On the other hand we walked into McDonalds yesterday and then straight back out, there were people everywhere, it felt very crowded and in no way appealing.

So, don’t go?! I probably won’t be, been shielding and not sure if I feel comfortable. I may go somewhere I can sit outside.
It’s not just about avoiding Covid, we need to stimulate the economy or people will lose jobs and their homes which has a huge negative impact on physical and mental health.
People need to be sensible, meeting a crowd of friends inside a restaurant from multiple households is silly but one household meeting one person seems fair enough.

Yep, there's no way I'll be eating indoors. No thank you Rishi. Not until schools reopen - our kids' return to relative normality should no be jeopardised for the sake of a half-price burger.

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

If the estbalishment has an outdoor dining area the offer would still apply. They don't mean dine in literally.

crap, we ate out last night & I think we both forgot to leave a tip. Sheesh, how did I do that? Feel bad now. :(

Almost all were sitting outside, was nice.

I remember looking at that diagram about how the virus spreads in a restaurant (based on what actually happened) it was through the air conditioning system. So all the hand sanitiser in the world won’t protect you...

I’ve eaten outside in restaurants and pubs but won’t inside. I’ll happily get takeaways and have done throughout the pandemic.

On the other hand we walked into McDonalds yesterday and then straight back out, there were people everywhere, it felt very crowded and in no way appealing.

The problem is, this is a public health issue. The government are encouraging people to go there and their guidance presumably means this is legal, yet doing this will worsen the public health problem we are all affected by.

The reason places such as Taiwan and Singapore have got on top of this is they don't see it as an individual choice whether to catch covid, they see it as a social responsibility not to spread covid.

As a result, their public health problem is smaller AND their economic problem is smaller.

The UK is in a mess. It doesn't matter whether I choose to go to McDonald's, if too many people do go, I'll just pick the virus up somewhere else, once it's spread around. Probably my kid will bring it home from school tbh.

We've been to a few restaurants, cafes and pubs to eat and all have had excellent systems in place. I really hope this offer can help places to stay afloat, we're a non-vulnerable family and will support them as much as we can.

Redolent I'm not changing the rules, I was sat a dinner with someone last night 2m away (granted it was a large group so we had a massive table) but that's why I said might. Its not a certainty you have to isolate.

Also, that's largely a decision for t&t now. For what its worth a friend of mine tested positive and passed my details onto t&t (my friend actually asked me first so i know this). We had eaten outside together within the apparent window and t&t didn't contact me. So maybe it's not just a blanket rule of 2m 15mins they are using.

Anyway, I'll continue to go out and enjoy myself eating and drinking and you can continue to meet your friends/families in the way you're happy with. The point of my post was meant to be to encourage people to have a look at the measures in place before just dismissing due to worry/fear.

Most are far safer that most shops I've been in and a dam lot safer than the government have planned for our schools. If you're happily sending your child to school (and as it's a parent forum I'm guessing that applies to a lot here) you've nothing to fear eating in a restaurant.

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

What guidlines are not being followed ? I thought meeting up with 6 people outside was allowed from 6th July.

What @labyrinthloafer said:

Our first problem right now is a public health problem. Our second problem is an economic problem.

We can't sensibly put in place policy solutions for the economy that affect the health situation. Because a worsening health situation will affect the economy further.

Encouraging people to eat indoors right now is, imo, a bit counter productive, both for health and the economy.

My partner's business is at 0% takings btw, due to covid, so I do understand the jobs issue.

on the news this morning (BBC) it was suggested that some takeaway places were going to join in the half price scheme.