Urgent - can two households still mix in restaurants?

[buttery81]

I just read that London is going into tier two lockdown from midnight tomorrow, which means no households mixing indoors.

My question is, can two households still mix in a restaurant or pub? Just asking because my brother and SIL were due to come to my house for lunch on Saturday with my nephew, which is no longer allowed. Could we book a restaurant instead?

It's a bit silly if we can as presumably it puts us all at more risk, but if it's a way around the rules then we will do it!

Yes, next.to.each.other. What has that to do with breaking rules or All these very very clever people getting round the rules. They were working completely and honestly, within the rules. They didn’t lie about living together or try to trick staff. They followed the rules in a very smart and safe way, so what’s wrong with that?

Either a) they didn't interact, in which case they weren't together or b) they did interact in which case they weren't adhering to the rules.

I don't consider it smart. Smart would be meeting outside and staying 2m apart.

If the UK actually want to get rid of covid why won't you all just stop going out?
Stop socialising.
Stop finding ways around rules.
Stop flouting the rules.
It's like the adults are all horny teenagers unable to keep themselves to themselves.
Stay home.

@sunshinesupermum

I'm supposed to be seeing DD1 and my grandsons in their home on Sunday - only 5 of us in one house and I'd be driving there. After only two meetings together this year after lockdown ended I am so upset to be missing out on their childhood. I'm the one at risk of illhealth, not them, as am not mixing otherwise at all. Really bad for my mental health.

Yes, this is really hard. I find it hard not seeing my family too.

How will they enforce it though?

JUST DO THE RIGHT THING, FFS!!!

It's shit for everyone, not just you.

Either a) they didn't interact, in which case they weren't together or b) they did interact in which case they weren't adhering to the rules.

I don't consider it smart. Smart would be meeting outside and staying 2m apart.

You do realise that tables are two metres apart in decent restaurants, don’t you? So unless the government and medical experts are lying to us, it’s not an issue. Or do you not going shopping, because you have to get closer than that to the staff? You’re actually getting a bee in your bonnet because someone was following the rules, rather than lying! Hers a big shocker, the waiting staff were actually closer to the customers than my friend was to her pals! We’re they “getting around” the rules?

@Athrawes

If the UK actually want to get rid of covid why won't you all just stop going out? Stop socialising. Stop finding ways around rules. Stop flouting the rules. It's like the adults are all horny teenagers unable to keep themselves to themselves. Stay home.

No doubt my friend will continue to FOLLOW the rules, as she has always done, now that they are changing.

First of all this is not an urgent problem...stop being so entitled. Second, much of the country has been subject to similar restrictions for months, people haven’t been sticking to it and now we face being even worse off because of people bending/not sticking to the rules. I should add that we were subject to those restrictions at much much lower rates than London has now. So just stop, see people outdoors and find other ways to catch up with people.

OP lots of areas have been living with this for months already, including my area.

You will find that most restaurants simply won't let you book for 2 tables "close together" or anything else which doesn't abide by the rules (or the spirit of them). Its not worth it for them in terms of being shut down if they're seen as not strictly adhering to the rules.

Here too lots of restaurants have moved to a kind of linear layout with perspex dividers so you wouldn't be able to converse with family members even if you could book adjacent tables.

Tier 2 doesn't come into effect until Monday I think. So Saturday should be fine.

Sorry, it's from Saturday onwards.

In London it comes in on Saturday

Some of these posters are unbelievable. My friend has FOLLOWED the rules to the letter and I guarantee has taken much less risk than most of you, yet she’s still getting slated. The restaurants were open and the seating was within the rules. She gets her shopping online and lives by herself so had one fucking meal out, in all the months she has been stuck in her flat. In the meantime others are out drinking, buying clothes, going to diy stores because they NEED to decorate their homes and getting their hair done, because looking good is really fucking essential during a pandemic. Unless you have done absolutely none of those things, get the fuck over yourself.

@PracticingPerson. I sort of agree with you that booking tables next to each other and talking is doubtful as it could increase risk. But I think it's absolutely fine to book tables at opposite ends of the same pub and 'pretend' via Zoom you're at the same table. You remain 2 separate households and the pub or restaurant makes money it wouldn't have if you just stayed at home.

You might ask, what's the point? Why not just stay at home since you can't sit together? Well, isn't the point to balance spending money and helping the economy against the Covid risk? Even if it's slightly shit.

We were going to be taking DC to visit their grandparents next week for a few days (it's too far for a day trip). Haven't seen them for almost 3 months. This is obviously not allowed now and grandparents are quite down and depressed about it. So we're planning to book a studio nearby to stay for a few days so we can at least meet them outdoors. Yes, it would be more within the 'spirit' to stay home entirely, but in that case, why hasn't the government gone for a short 'circuit breaker' lockdown? Because they still want and need people to spend money.

If your intent on meeting, surely you’d just book a restaurant outside london?
Unless your very central it wouldn’t take you long to get to one outside.

And this is the problem with the local lockdown, whist people should do the right thing it doesn’t mean they do. I’ve heard someone bragging about ways they’ve got round quarantining from holiday and things “we heard they track your phone so we bought a pay as you go”

This is the problem, it’s gone from preventing the spread to getting round the government control.

You will find that most restaurants simply won't let you book for 2 tables "close together" or anything else which doesn't abide by the rules (or the spirit of them). Its not worth it for them in terms of being shut down if they're seen as not strictly adhering to the rules.

Good job the restaurant and my friend didn’t break any of those rules, then. Thank you for pointing that out.

@DeliciouslyFemale. I agree with you. We're all selectively 'interpreting' the rules to suit what we want to do and then blaming others when they do the same.

We are tier two. Meeting friends for lunch and the cafe has told us we have to sit outside . We will just wrap up well!

@buttery81

Damn - sounds like lunch is off then.

How will they enforce it though?

If irresponsible people keep trying to find a way round it, and infections increase, they will enforce it by putting your area into tier 3....

Ffs people like you that are looking for ways around the rules are the reason why strict measures have been brought in. Carry on looking for loopholes and you'll be in tier 3 in no time!

It's my daughters birthday next week and we was due to have a meal with my mum at a local restaurant, meaning 5 to a table. Now we can't do that as it's two different households. Even if mum sat on the table next to us, we would still be classed as "socialising", so rightly the restaurant won't allow it. So myself and the kids will eat at the restaurant alone, and try make the best of a bad situation.

I shall be getting a taxi later, in order to pick up my daughter from her college. She has SN and underlying conditions, so when I phone I’ll say I need one that has a screen between the driver and passenger and that the driver must wear a mask. 50% of the time I will still have to ask them to wear a mask and they’ll say they don’t have to because the rules say so. I will YET AGAIN have to point out that I requested it during booking. Now that’s probably causing a higher risk of the spread of this horrible virus more that three people sitting two metres apart in a large restaurant. But I’m sure the offended posters are fine with that, because it’s ‘within’ the rules.

No, and they enforce it with fines.
We've had no change hardly from March up here and fines are happening.
You need to watch your neighbours, they will report if their freedom has been stopped and you are breaking the rules.
I could/ but won't visit family in a 3 tier area and the neighbours wouldn't bat an eye lid.
Go to family in tier 2 and the neighbours would report.
Just announced on news that fines will get tougher. A while back parents were fined at an outdoor birthday party, round here.

@buttery81

But if people keep ignoring the rules then they'll call in the army. Is that what you want?

What's so entertaining about this? Is your lunch really that vital?

[quote MessAllOver]@DeliciouslyFemale. I agree with you. We're all selectively 'interpreting' the rules to suit what we want to do and then blaming others when they do the same.[/quote]
Thank you. I’m an absolute stickler for the rules, because of my children, but some of these posters are being absolutely fucking ridiculous. The friends broke none of our rules whatsoever, but because their local rules are different, then so must everyone else’s.

[quote MessAllOver]@DeliciouslyFemale. I agree with you. We're all selectively 'interpreting' the rules to suit what we want to do and then blaming others when they do the same.[/quote]
Speak for yourself! Many people are following guidance.