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Original poster

How many of you have been eating inside at restaurants now?

226 replies

Lovelydaybut · 30/05/2021 22:51

We ended up needing to eat today in a city we were visiting (long story).
Tried lots of outdoor places but no tables free so we went into a huge fairly empty restaurant.
Bit by bit, it filled up and they ended up seating people quite closely together.

I have had both vaccines - second one was around 10 days ago.

Nobody except the waiters had masks on.

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 31/05/2021 17:20

I haven't but I will and am.

I have lunch booked with a friend in a few days but went for a 12 o clock booking as it's quieter earlier on.

I've fully vaccinated and second jab was 6 weeks ago.

I also have been poolside during swim club comps and during training indoors since we went back in 12th April. It's got busier and busier and less and less distancing as the restrictions eased!

Smartiepants79 · 31/05/2021 19:46

@IcedPurple

This is exactly my thinking.
Don’t go out to eat and then be weird about the fact that other people are doing the same thing.
You don’t know the circumstances of any of these people. They might all be there for the same reasons you are. You are not extra special. If crowded places bother you, don’t go.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 31/05/2021 20:21

Yes, many times. Delighted to be able to again.

jasjas1973 · 31/05/2021 21:02

I didn't even know indoor eating was now allowed.... seriously, thought it was 21st june.

Smartiepants79 · 31/05/2021 21:07

@jasjas1973 have you not left your house in the last few weeks? Not seen people in cafes, pubs and restaurants?
Never mind all the stuff on the news....

Katie517 · 31/05/2021 21:18

Yes everyday on the week they first opened up, either eating or getting a coffee. Have also been to gym classes indoors most days, to the shopping centre, to a friends baby shower, swimming, to the cinema, taken my baby to the aquarium finally and had friends over and been inside people’s houses although have been doing that for a while. I honestly can’t believe people are frightened of doing the very things that make life worth living, it’s only on here that I read stuff like this as well every where I go I see people of all ages out having fun and living life. I’m sick of hearing about it to be honest if you are scared of crowded places feel free to stay at home, stop going out and then moaning that it’s busy when you are there too!

DelBocaVista · 31/05/2021 21:23

Yes of course.
I'm currently on holiday in the uk with another family. We've eaten in pubs and restaurants everyday.

I'm not sure why you expected everyone to be wearing masks. You only need to wear them if you're walking around. You certainly don't need to be wearing them while sat at the table.

woodfort · 31/05/2021 21:43

A couple of times. Honestly, I kind of forgot that it was a “new” thing to do after 5 months of this latest lockdown and it just felt normal again and I didn’t give it a second thought.

NannyAndJohn · 31/05/2021 23:20

Not me! I can't really say the prospect of sitting maskless surrounded by a swarm of people from multiple households while the Indian Variant is on the loose and cases are starting to rise exponentially fills me with any pleasure.

Katie517 · 31/05/2021 23:26

@NannyAndJohn you need to learn what exponentially means! Also do you ever intend on enjoying yourself and being around “swarms” of people again?

NannyAndJohn · 31/05/2021 23:33

@Katie517 2362, 2410, 2987, 3380, 4028... Looks exponential to me!

Of course! But it's not quite time to let our guard down, especially now that the third wave is here.

Tumbleweed101 · 01/06/2021 06:21

Yes, eaten out a few times now and been to cinema. It has been lovely to do normal things again and I haven’t felt worried by it. I’ve had one jab so far.

Original poster
Lovelydaybut · 01/06/2021 07:57

Thanks for all the replies.

I feel some of you are being a bit harsh tbh.
But that says more about you than anything.

My main points were that the restaurant didn’t do much to help social distancing. We had chosen a light, airy looking place but they chose to seat all the arrivals in the middle part of the restaurant- I had somebody sitting directly behind me on a two sided banquette thing.
My understanding of the guidance is that you keep the mask on unless you are eating and drinking which led me to believe that you put it back once you had finished.
And tbf I said that I was at the time but later, when I thought back, I found it a bit scary. A ‘bit’ scary - not a lot scary.
But overreact to my comments all you like.

OP posts:
Osrie · 01/06/2021 08:40

@TO12T39FRQ

no. got used to being without them. actually didnt miss the mediocre, over priced food in quite drab and shabby surroundings, with staff who seemed bored and robotic..
We all feel the same. We ended up having a sandwich on a lovely bit of open grassland the other day and another day just out it off until we got home. I’ve always been dubious of cleanliness in some places and last August had my fears confirmed.
hilarymantlepiece · 01/06/2021 08:48

No, will as soon as our whole family unit is fully vaccinated though, won’t be long now Smile

Mabelene · 01/06/2021 08:51

If someone was seated behind you, I assume they were facing the opposite way? How would that be a problem?

We have eaten in restaurants, masked to go in and sit down, and to walk around to go to the toilet, for example, but sat at a table, no mask required

Stillgoings · 01/06/2021 08:54

Twice. Both times were busy and buzzy and felt good. I have now contracted a heavy cold (negative covid test) and realise I must have caught it from sitting opposite my friend in a busy noisy restaurant...she told me that her kids and husband were unwell with a cold.

Waiting423 · 01/06/2021 09:05

I’ve not yet - and on the basis it’s now June I’ll still eat outside as much as I can …

I’m not full vaccinated yet though and neither is my husband who’s more at risk

rookiemere · 01/06/2021 09:21

We are and drunk out loads over the weekend. My main concern is being forced to self isolate as a result of someone else in the vicinity getting covid, despite us having had both jabs now.

It's natural for some to be nervous- for over a year we have been told that other people are the enemy- it's hard to get over that and some people may feel more comfortable doing it in stages.

Original poster
Lovelydaybut · 01/06/2021 10:03

@Mabelene

If someone was seated behind you, I assume they were facing the opposite way? How would that be a problem?

We have eaten in restaurants, masked to go in and sit down, and to walk around to go to the toilet, for example, but sat at a table, no mask required

That would be a problem because covid is airborne - it behaves like smoke particular swirling around and building up in the air.
OP posts:
Original poster
Lovelydaybut · 01/06/2021 10:04

Particles - not particular!!

OP posts:
Againstmachine · 01/06/2021 11:15

If you don't want to eat inside don't, but don't do it then complain.

And also if everybody felt the way you do, there may not be any resturants to go back to when you are ready too.

DelBocaVista · 01/06/2021 11:39

And also if everybody felt the way you do, there may not be any resturants to go back to when you are ready too.

This.

Original poster
Lovelydaybut · 01/06/2021 11:58

@Againstmachine

If you don't want to eat inside don't, but don't do it then complain.

And also if everybody felt the way you do, there may not be any resturants to go back to when you are ready too.

At the time, I went in, it felt ok and I was happy to eat there. As time went by, the restaurant got busier snd they didn’t socially distance the tables. And when I got home, I felt a bit anxious about that.

I’m not sure why you are being so adamant about this tbh.
Surely we are allowed to look back at something and reflect on how the thing played out?
Or do we have to stick to one opinion and not deviate from that even if the situation changes?

And to the next post- I’ve certainly supported them by having takeaway from this that do it.
And I’m not happy to support a restaurant that can’t manage their room such that they comply with the law on social distancing- in a pandemic that does seem to be quite a problem.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 01/06/2021 12:04

They're probably desperate to make some money after being forced to shut for so long. Can't blame them for not being rigid on social distancing. Me and a lot of others will probably be happy to continue to go even without proper social distancing.