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?

Yes, I went to our local pub which is at risk of closure on Friday and I've plans to meet a friend next Friday if restrictions don't change.

Yes. We have been doing this regularly since pubs and restaurants opened.
I enjoying going out and I really want to support the hospitality industry and my local pubs and restaurants.

Yes. I consider it my duty to support the hospitality trade and I'm healthy and can afford it. Think those who think it's 'not worth the risk' don't understand the dependence of the UK economy on hospitality.

We eat out at least once a week.

No. We’re happy to have a takeaway at home instead. We are going out and about but avoiding anywhere (except work) where we can be contacted by track and trace. We will struggle with money if we both have to self isolate so I’d rather do other things than eat out for in the hope of reducing the need for this.

It could also impact too many people if I’d need to self isolate but my class didn’t (primary teacher.) I absolutely support people’s right to choose what they do and where they go as long as it’s in the government guidelines for their local area.

Those who don’t want to eat out “until this is over” will have to accept however that their favourite places may well not be there anymore.

No aside from shopping we’ve not done any indoor activities since this all started. Especially now with all the kids back at school we are already at higher risk so won’t be putting ourselves in any other higher risk situations.

Yes. I've booked two places for lunch in half term. Cases are still very low here.

Those who don’t want to eat out “until this is over” will have to accept however that their favourite places may well not be there anymore.
Completely agree if everyone thought that way there will be no places to reopen.
I'm off out today to eat in my local pub it's perfectly safe . In fact I think it's safer than me going to the supermarket or work .
I'm in the north and it's looking likely that places will shut this week which is a shame . A lot of these restaurants or pub restaurants are lumped in with these busy city centre bars where I agree the social distancing is difficult to enforce .
If the evidence is there that pubs shut in my opinion it should just be the drinking bars in city centres .

Yes, I have been eating out regularly and haven't given it any more thought than I would have pre-Covid. I teach in a secondary school with over 1000 pupils, so my exposure from going to work every day is far higher than it is in a pub or restaurant.

No. I don't want to be inside with people at the moment in poorly ventilated spaces or spaces with air conditioning.

Those who don’t want to eat out “until this is over” will have to accept however that their favourite places may well not be there anymore.

This is what worries me.

No, not because of virus fear but because I’m avoiding all T&T establishments. Don’t fancy forced home dwelling for multiple 14 day periods.

We went out to dinner on Friday. I am 37 weeks pregnant, I dont go to pubs, I dont see many people throughout the week as I wfh. I thought it was very safe. All staff wearing masks and keeping distance, not very busy (nobody sitting at either table beside us), disposable menus, hand sanitizer everywhere. I loved it and felt safe.

We've eaten out a few times but have cut down as we are trying to save money. I feel safe when I go out I don't think I'm likely to catch it from restaurants.

I ate out at a pizza express for the first tome this week

The first drink I was bought had lipstick around the top.

If that can happen during these times when I have to use an app to read the menu and wear a mask until I sit down it doesn’t give me much reassurance on the rest of their hygiene practices

I'm not making a habit of it but have done a couple of times in the last 3 weeks. On both occasions I or someone I was with was having a really crap mental health day and having a nice meal in a warm restaurant made us instantly feel a bit better.

Think those who think it's 'not worth the risk' don't understand the dependence of the UK economy on hospitality.
What a patronising comment! I make my decisions on what risks are worth taking based on a cost/benefit analysis for myself and my family. For us, any pleasure we might get from eating out is outweighed by the risk of contracting Covid-19 which, as has been well documented, can have very unpleasant long-term health consequences even in groups for whom the risk of death is tiny.

Went to Central London for a nice lunch yesterday.

Travelled by train and tube.

Lunch was delicious though slightly marred by arriving at a top end restaurant to empty tables as no glassware or cutlery was put put until you were seated. Though this annoyed me the masks didn't bother me in the slightest.

We live an hour from London and it was odd to see it so quiet on a saturday.

We will keep eating out. In our shire in the South cases are low and restaurants and pubs are all distanced.

It's the thought of being in the same, not very big room with lots of other people breathing and talking for say an hour that makes me uncomfortable
Lucky you aren’t a teacher, then @Featherstep
I do that 5 hours a day 5 days a week. I’ll be fucked if I’m not doing it (in places with more ventilation, more distancing and better cleaning regimes) for relaxation. Although at the moment I can o lay do it alone as I’m in a Welsh lockdown area and can’t socialise indoors with anyone not in my household and I live alone.

Yes.
Ate out yesterday lunch time in a city likely to be fully locked down on Monday.
Feel sad for the owners and all the staff.

Yes I would.

Though I acknowledge that it is not totally safe.

I would probably try to avoid a restaurant with very close tables and a low ceiling, though.

@Malteserdiet

First I want to get it straight that I am not saying Covid 19 is the same as flu. I know what’s it like on here if you merely hint at any such suggestion.

However, has anyone honestly ever gone for a meal at a restaurant pre 2020 and sat there feeling worried that someone else in the restaurant might have a flu, a coronavirus or a norovirus that they might then pass to you? Why is this virus actually any different in that respect? Yes we are told that it is more contagious than some other viruses but a flu, norovirus or coronavirus floating around could prove equally as dangerous to certain individuals. We haven’t shut the world down before for those viruses and as far as I’m aware most people have not been scared to sit down inside a restaurant and eat a meal in case they catch something off a random fellow diner.

I know the government have run a very successful fear campaign backed up with horrifying images and stories from the mainstream media but I think it’s time we all woke up from this control by fear and actually started to think more critically and rationally and push for a return to total normality. It is important for mental health, other non Covid health, children’s education, people’s livelihoods, whole industries like travel and the arts and I could go on. This needs to end now and it needs to start with people shrugging off the veil of fear we have all been draped in.

@Malteserdiet

Great, sensible post

Track and trace is what's putting me off , it would be very difficult for us if we had to isolate, not really concerned about the virus.
I'm too knackered after work anyway to fancy going out so quite satisfied with a takeaway.
That said i have enormous concern for every business affected , it is the future that worries me .

Not at the moment.

We did happily in the summer & for me it’s not about virus risk but I’m a teacher & can’t risk the 2 weeks self isolation / getting track & traced because of the impact for school with cover etc. It’s just not worth it at the moment, things are complicated enough.

No because of the mask saga and all the rules...ruins any enjoyment. Would only eat outside.