I'm not going to a restaurant again.

[ssd]

Me and dh just been out for dinner. Cheap and cheerful place, food not brilliant but half price so can't complain. Social distancing in place, took contact details at door, hand sanitiser at entrance and exit, paid contact less. Our table has plenty space around it.

Still felt too dodgy. Didn't enjoy it.
Won't be doing that again for a while.

I’m on holiday and we’ve been eating out every day as we usually would on holiday. Tables are distanced, everyone (hopefully) sanitising etc and filling in details. I want to enjoy ourselves and have as normal a summer as possible in case this all blows up again over winter and we go back into lockdown. I’m really happy with how everyone has been behaving here, I was very apprehensive about coming but it’s been good.

I’d rather make hay while the sun shines personally. Also agree it’s a bit silly to be so worried about catching it from eating out - you’re much more likely to catch it in a shop or at work and the risk is going to increase substantially when the kid’s are all back at school and mingling.

@Celan I agree

We have eaten out loads since it was possible again
Everywhere has different rules but all doing their best, apart from one trendy chain restaurant which was appaling. No track and trace, no reduction in tables crammed in, we were literally 6 in from people next door. Reused paper menus, cutlery and condiments pre set on tables, three waiting staff stood shoulder by shoulder to sing happy birthday to one table 🤣 just won’t be going back there but everywhere else great .

OP, I hope you don't think I feel angry with you. I don't. I feel angry about the fact that so many people have been convinced that they are not "safe" unless they disinfect their post and stay at home until some non-existent remote point in the future when a vaccination will suddenly stop anyone dying from anything, ever.

@Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple

We have eaten out loads since it was possible again Everywhere has different rules but all doing their best, apart from one trendy chain restaurant which was appaling. No track and trace, no reduction in tables crammed in, we were literally 6 in from people next door. Reused paper menus, cutlery and condiments pre set on tables, three waiting staff stood shoulder by shoulder to sing happy birthday to one table 🤣 just won’t be going back there but everywhere else great .

They were SINGING! One of the most dangerous things you can do at the moment.

I’d have walked out and reported them. How can they be so irresponsible.

Make hay while the sun shines, I like that and intend to do that and as for the winter to quote Scarlett OHara Ill think about tomorrow.

"After all tomorrow is another day"

And never mind prices in restaurants going up: I went to the dentist today, and paid a £30 surcharge for sodding PPE. The dentist was very apologetic. Apparently each patient costs an additional £60 in PPE, so they are "sharing the costs" with the patients.

Just what I needed, given that bastarding lockdown has meant I have earned a bit fat fuck all since February.

I do agree, though, Celan. I'm abroad in a 'hotspot'. Been going out to eat loads. You wear masks except when eating or drinking. Staff wear masks. Tables spaced. Good experience. Was so nice to not be surrounded by terror-struck people.

They were SINGING! One of the most dangerous things you can do at the moment

Sorry, but that's nonsense, @Comefromaway There has been a lot of research into this. If the government thought there were votes in choral Evensong rather than bums on pub stools, they would have made this clearer. And I am someone who had voted Conservative all my life until Brexit, so I'm not axe-grinding here.

Comefromaway, I know, couldn’t quite believe it .
The table they were singing too seemed to enjoy it as well .
I did think I might just email head office to do some refresher covid awareness training.
I didn’t cause a fuss as my breakfast pancakes were delicious and we are a low risk area but it’s the principle of the thing, when other places are making such an effort .

Gosh like all things you pays your money and takes your chances.

My sister lives in a posh area and to be honest we eyed up a few places to dine in some dining places has no visors no gloves which put us off. However one of the teatime news programs has a restaurant complaining people would not dine in but has ungloved fingers putting the burgers together - is it just me?

I wouldn't eat inside, although I have a few bookings at places with outdoor seating this month. I guess people are angry because they or people they know work in hospitality and their jobs are at risk. But if an industry relies on people doing things that feel unsafe to stay afloat, well, it just won't work will it.

Places that can offer good quality, creative takeaway options are going to do well I think.

Celan, really ?
I thought they had said all along singing was not advisable
I thought there had been outbreaks linked to choirs.
It stands to reason that a virus spread by aerosol would be shed more by singing than talking
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-singing-choirs-risky-coughing-sage-a9649176.html
Ready to be corrected though if I’m behind the curve

Nearlyoldenough (like the name, btw!) - yes, it's true. I am professionally involved with music. I'll look up the research and will post it on here. The original link was made because several elderly members of an American amateur choir came down with Covid after a rehearsal. The expert I know, however, said it was more likely to have been transmitted by the shared refreshments (i.e. plates of biscuits touched by several people) during the break than by singing or talking. As I say, though, I'll try to dig up the research (poss not now, as it's bedtime!)

I've eaten out several times. No concerns. It's nice to be out and I'm making the most of it in case we are forced to lockdown again.

I'm more bothered by sitting in a small office for 7 hours a day with others and the aircon full blast. Every year somebody gets the lurgy but drags themselves in because of presenteeism and spreads the germs across the team.

I'm happy to eat out at larger places, where you are required to book and where they have a good handle on distancing and cleaning etc.

I'm less happy now than I initially was while shopping as a lot of people seem to have thrown distancing away inside. We don't have to wear masks in shops here in Wales, but DH and I do anyway as there are so many people that get really close to you while shopping now.

I don't understand why people think chefs/servers wearing gloves is necessarily better.

We ate out as a family last week, the first time since March. We were sat outside but I found it incredibly stressful. Staff were handling money and food without washing hands in between. I was conscious of dc touching everything, I think we used half a mini bottle of hand gel in one trip out! It will be take away for our treat for the time being!

I'm going nowhere near fast food places where you have to just queue to get in!

I've ate out 4 times now and felt fine.
There's been no covid related deaths in my area for nearly 2 months.
Also r rate here is lowest in country.

Thing is when you are moving around in a supermarket people are mostly wearing masks so the amount of potential particles is low. In a poorly ventilated pub or restaurant with no one wearing masks one person could easily infect a lot of people. Large particles may drop quickly and be wiped away / fall to the floor but aerosol transmission (from people talking etc) can linger in the air for ages. Whilst it is fairly unlikely for you to be in there at the same time as someone with Covid (previously mentioned areas accepted) the staff have a much higher chance and if they aren't wearing masks I see that as a potential risk.

We have booked to eat out next week, sat outside and we will wear masks if we need to go into the toilet to try and minimise what we can.

Thanks for telling us now we can sleep peacefully tonight.

What felt dodgy? Eating food prepared by someone else? Would you buy a takeaway and have it delivered? Or sitting in a restaurant socially distanced - when surely you must have been to a supermarket? What's the difference?
I can imagine thinking - ooh-err, haven't done this for a while! - but surely that wears off after five minutes and you just enjoy being out!

I have eaten out a few times.
Dd and I enjoyed a 2 course meal and soft drinks sat outside in the sun in a beautiful pub/restaurant for £14 in total.

All staff were wearing masks.
The menus were paper and discarded after.
We texted our table number and order through.

Because the tables were placed apart then it felt even nicer.

No idea what our infection rate is but last time I looked we were middle of a very long list of places.

I've done one meal outside at a garden centre and that felt safe and ok. The waitress was wearing a mask.

Today I popped into McDonald's with my kids as they had been asking for one. It was well spaced out and everyone was instructed to use the hand gel when they came in. We weren't in there long, it was 11am so not at all busy but I just couldn't relax being inside. I wish I'd just paid the extra and got take away to be honest.

I know my worry is probably out of proportion and I'm actually in a low case area but I'll be sticking to outside dining and take aways from now on.