Tier 2 pubs - Alcohol only served with a substantial meal - how the fuck is that actually going to work in practice

[JovialNickname]

So according to the papers a lot of us are going to end up in a more severe tier 2, post lockdown. How on earth is the above going to work on a practical level? Obviously "wet" pubs will remain closed. For pubs that serve food it really sounds as if you can only get a drink with a meal. So can you drink for a couple of hours first if you promise to order food at the end? What happens if after those couple of hours you decide you're not hungry and leave? Once you've eaten do you have license to then stay as long as you want? Do you have to keep the dishes as proof? Can you share a meal with someone. Do you have to eat it. Can there be some food bank type scheme where you give the dinner you don't want (that you've had to order cos of covid) to someone that's going hungry (cos of covid). If none of the above applies and you can literally only have a drink with a meal, then why would anyone go to a pub rather than a restaurant,and why would any food pub even bother to open given that most of their revenue comes from drinks? In addition, like the rule of six, this announcement appears to place the onus on pubs to enforce government restrictions; ignoring the massive, insulting contradiction that pubs are being asked to refuse customers and therefore being made to sound the death knoll for their own business.

Worked in Ireland for months. 90 min slot booked in pub, 9€ or above meal, pay on arrival.
don't see the problem.

Although booking is an option in English pubs, it's never been mandatory and the vast majority of people just walk in. I suppose that could work, though I'm unsure how many pubs would be confident enough of their food offerings to open based on that alone. Fair point though

They've been doing this in Liverpool and other top tier pubs for a while now.
You can't order a drink without a meal so no of course you can't order drinks and promise to buy a meal later that would be ridiculous and chaotic.
You can't share meals either. You have to buy a proper sit down meal so for example in our pubs you can't buy a panini or a wrap on its own but you can order it with chips or side salad.
You can't order a small "picky" kind of plate, say nachos between a table of 6.

It worked (relatively) well before.

Although booking is an option in English pubs, it's never been mandatory and the vast majority of people just walk in

Same in Ireland. Pubs dealt with it lots of ways...some had their own food as before. But some teamed up with a nearby pizza delivery or chipper, some had food made offsite and brought in etc etc. It was fine.

For pubs that serve food it really sounds as if you can only get a drink with a meal.
That is correct.

So can you drink for a couple of hours first if you promise to order food at the end?
Of course not.
What happens if after those couple of hours you decide you're not hungry and leave?
Not applicable. See above answer.

Once you've eaten do you have license to then stay as long as you want?
No. The pub/restaurant need to make money so they will probably place a time limit on you. It would also be very selfish to hog a table drinking when others wish to eat.

Can you share a meal with someone. Do you have to eat it. Can there be some food bank type scheme where you give the dinner you don't want (that you've had to order cos of covid) to someone that's going hungry (cos of covid).
You are being stupid now.

If none of the above applies and you can literally only have a drink with a meal, then why would anyone go to a pub rather than a restaurant,and why would any food pub even bother to open given that most of their revenue comes from drinks?
Many pubs are chains which are pub restaurants these days. I know only a couple of pubs that don't serve food.
Many families can only afford to go to pub restaurants rather than fine dine in restaurants. Pubs don't have to open. They can go to the wall if they wish.

Is it really that hard to see how this could work?

Some of our nicer places to eat are pubs. Not sure what the problem is, go to pub, order food, order drink. Sounds fine to me!

Threads like this make me realise how little attention people "down south" paid to the restrictions elsewhere previously!

@Flev

Threads like this make me realise how little attention people "down south" paid to the restrictions elsewhere previously!

Because one person posted a thread like this? Sweeping generalisation much?

It worked well here before.

Bookings were encouraged, but even for walk ins it was table seating only, and there was a time limit. One meal (each!) with a couple of drinks just fit nicely.

"Not sure what the problem is, go to pub, order food, order drink."

That's what we've been doing. Works fine. I've only been in the pub a couple of times this year but thoroughly enjoyed it. Am looking forward to going back.

They’ve had these rules in Scotland for certain times of day etc for a long time pre covid. It’s not a big drama. Alcoholic drink needs to be ancillary to a meal, simple as that.

"down south" like London which had one of the higher levels of restriction? Don't worry - we know perfectly well what lockdown looks like Plenty of restaurants and pubs going to the wall here if that makes you feel any better...

@PurpleDaisies - nope, this is one of about 20 similar threads since last night.

You’ll probably be given a two hour slot.

@Flev

Threads like this make me realise how little attention people "down south" paid to the restrictions elsewhere previously!

I’m ‘down south’ and to be honest I thought that was the rule here before lockdown. But then I rarely go to the pub without having a meal anyway!

What a ridiculous thread. I’m down South and it’s been like that where I am for ages.

Go to pub. Order meal and drink at the bar. Order a second drink while you eat. Maybe even a third. Finish. Go home.

It’s been like that in Liverpool and it was fine

You have to order main meal but in my experience they don’t then chuck you out - I’ve stayed 3-4 hours in meal time - just in time to then go for tea in another restaurant so you can make a day of it if you want 🤣

Restaurants just want the booking - once you’re in they don’t care as long as your spending money and they’re ‘seen’ to follow rules

OP You sound just the sort of reason this rule exists. Surely the point is to let hospitality operate a bit bit and not allow people to huddle together drinking for hours. Most people would have a meal and a drink or two and go home these days.

Fair enough, I am London based, and yes I think it's fair to say in my area we have not made ourselves as aware as we should have done of restrictions in other places, that have been made to work in different ways! When the rule came in for example that different households weren't allowed to mix indoors, no pub took the blindest bit of notice. People wanted to drink, pubs wanted to sell beer, no one cared unless the police were about. I suppose I thought something similar would apply given that no exact rules seem to have been imposed; only that the general idea is that you must eat to drink. Thank you for educating me and yes I understand better now thanks to all for your replies

Where we live we have 3 pubs, one of which mainly serves the elderly who just pop in for a pint and a chat, they don’t offer food, so unless they do, they cannot open. We also have a social club, again they don’t offer food so don’t know what’s going to happen there.

@Flev

Threads like this make me realise how little attention people "down south" paid to the restrictions elsewhere previously!

OP then all your pubs will be shut unless they team up with a takeaway.

In my immediate area of London to remain viable long term nearly all the pubs have had to become gastropubs and sell food. Out of the two that haven't - one teamed up with a takeaway decades ago to stay in business.

About 2 miles away the pubs all have dance floors so are nightclubs.

For us chefs this is better than staying closed.Also now there are limited tables I would ve thought it makes sense to use them for diners.We have lots of regulars who love out food and I can't wait to get back to work.

@Flev

Threads like this make me realise how little attention people "down south" paid to the restrictions elsewhere previously!

Amazing isn't it?

Very revealing.

How is this going to work? Exactly the same as it has previously under T3. Drink only allowed with meal. Meal cannot be a snack. Meal with classified as something with a side. Many pubs did deals with local takeaway or food trucks so they could stay open although they don't usually serve food. There were lots of innovative ideas. Others just decided to close as it wasn't financially worthwhile opening.

It would be nice if people did pay attention though.