Would you eat out now (inside dining)?

[Featherstep]

I really miss going out for a weekend cafe or pub lunch with my family but my husband thinks it's not worth the risk eating inside now that the virus is spreading again like wildfire. He's probably right - the last time we sat inside for a pub lunch (in August), I felt very uncomfortable being so close to the people at the next table.

Most outdoor seating gets booked up really quickly. I feel like for almost every outing since March we've brought packed picnic lunches. I am SO sick of packed sandwiches and would just love to sit down somewhere with warm food for once, just like pre-Covid times!

So just that really, are you comfortable going to lunch if it's going to be inside?

Due to illness I can’t, but if I was well I wouldn’t now cases are rising again in my area. If I lived in an area where cases haven’t risen so much I might.

Yes I’ve eaten out quite a few times and sat inside, usually feeling fairly safe cos of distancing. I have friends who still only want to sit outside though.

When the virus was low after lockdown yes.

We had lunch out the other day and unfortunately, although I initially felt safe, the restaurant slowly filled io6, became hot and stuffy and when I asked for a window to be briefly opened... The people next to us became very pa! It was open a tiny bit for a few moments.

I wouldn't risk it again now, it's utterly bizarre if I had a restaurant I'd socially distance tables and periodically open windows!!

Depends. Where I live, yes.

In a big city, especially in the North - probably not.

Get a grip

Yes, but I choose the places I eat very carefully.

We are lunch out today because we wanted to support a local cafe. Only our family so no mixed households, tables well spaced & masks when walking around, table service only, one way system.

Did feel safe but in an area with fairly low levels, and I'm not sure we'll go anywhere else for a while as cases rise.

Yes I eat in restaurants and go to the pub

I worked all through lockdown and it was so miserable working and then having nothing fun to do

I'm happy to give some of my wages to the hospitality industry too as I want my local places to exist in a year's time

Nope. Haven't done since March and have no intention of doing so now. I have sat outside for coffees and for one lunch because I wasn't anywhere near home at the time. I have family reasons to be careful so that's the risk assessment we have collectively taken. Others will be more relaxed.

Yes, I would without hesitation. The restaurants I've seen have managed it really well, with distancing and other precautions.

it's way safer than Primark queue was earlier

That doesn't mean indoor restaurants are safe

To he honest everywhere is so dead I'm more likely to catch it travelling to work and at work

From the latest PHE report. Outbreaks in restaurants are dwarfed by workplaces, education and care homes. In fact they are safer than hospital

And to put into context, according to ONS, there are estimated to be 224,000 people with COVID in the UK. That’s about 0.3% of the population

No where is safe, primark queues , Waitrose queues , high end pubs , Wetherspoons, as you can literally get it anyway no where is safe

@ceeveebee thats really interesting , thanks

Even though as the evidences stands they believe the majority of droplet transmission is large droplets which don’t go much further than 2 metres, it is being increasingly recognised that some droplets (perhaps only 10%) are the smaller type which can become airborne. In a poorly ventilated room these smaller droplets can travel much further than 2 metres and so social distancing would only give you a good level of protection from the larger droplets but not the smaller droplets, although as said there should be a lot less of them.

The few epidemiologists and public health professionals I follow on twitter all say they will not be eating inside a poorly ventilated crowded building this winter. Individual choice of course but as I live in an area where cases are rising (not the highest area, about mid point) I would follow what they are doing if I could go out.

Yes, have eaten out at least once a week since restaurants re-opened and haven't caught anything yet. Restaurants need our support - I was in London last week and it was completely dead. If you ever wanted to try one of those places that gets booked up months ahead, now is the time - which isn't great for the restaurants, but we're taking advantage of it while we can.

No, absolutely not. Outside is ok, but it will spread indoors with aircon and lack of ventilation.

Yep - went out last night for dinner and today for lunch.

poorly ventilated crowded buildings

There literally is no restaurants or pubs where I live matching this description, they are all following the law, tables spaced out , no one standing at the bar ,no crowded pubs etc

it will spread indoors with aircon and lack of ventilation again that describes my work place more than any restaurant I've been to

Yes, I did today. Carluccios. Tables were very well spaced. Waiters wearing masks. It was fine.

I’ve been out for brunch and dinner today! Dinner yday - lunch Thursday, probably pub tomorrow afternoon for lunch too?

I don’t get how a all that risky - like it’s socially distanced, wash hands on arrival - tables are properly cleaned in between - people wear masks on entry and when they get up To go to the toilet or leave ?

Op I don't wish to sound harsh but you feel uncomfortable eating out at the moment, so why are you asking? You're not going to enjoy it anyway no matter what anyone else's opinion so I would suggest just don't do it?

Eating out doesn't bother me, nor does going to work, my kids going to school, going to the gym, DH playing team sports..... all a calculated risk.

No.