Rule of 6?

[RulesRulesRulesRulesRules]

My understanding was that the rule of six no longer applies outside.

But have just been told by a pub that they are still following this rule for their outside tables.

Hasn't it been up to 30 people outside since 17th May?

Legally it's 30 but pubs can choose a smaller number

They can have whatever rules they like really. Maybe they feel having larger groups would affect smaller tables, who may dine more frequently, and put them off.

It’s up to 30 outside but pubs can choose to set their own limits if they want to.

Yeah we had the same problem. Not allowed table over 6 in restaurant so can't meet with my dsis and kids as will make 8.

You can go to the park with 30 but pubs and restaurants can do their own rules apparently its something to do with capacity.

Where i live its no more than 8 from 3 households.

What's the point of having rules if everyone just does what they like 🤷🏽‍♀️

Where I am, you can book for larger events in advance (usually with a deposit to make sure you turn up); otherwise it’s 6 people or 2 households.

I went out with 5 people for my birthday dinner the restaurant "allowed" us to stay for 2 hours but if there was just 4 we would get a 90 minute slot,its all a bit bonkers isn't it?

@RulesRulesRulesRulesRules

What's the point of having rules if everyone just does what they like 🤷🏽‍♀️

Pubs and restaurants are private businesses. Of course they are free to choose how many the maximum size of booking they wish to take. If they can’t accommodate you, there are plenty of other places you can take your custom to.

As long as they are within the law they can do as they wish. It’s like not having to drive at 60 mph in a 60 mph zone, below it is perfectly ok too. 🤷‍♀️

It doesn't seem like good business to me 🤷🏼‍♀️

@RulesRulesRulesRulesRules

It doesn't seem like good business to me 🤷🏼‍♀️

Whereas I’d be delighted to find somewhere that was more cautious about protecting public health and their employees health, so would be more inclined to put trade their way. Nice to have a choice. 🤷‍♀️

Lots of pubs and restaurants had maximum group sizes, even before covid (although clearly they would be higher than 6). They don’t have to allow you to do everything that is legal.

Pubs have to lay out their tables in a way that allows for social distancing between groups, so presumably don’t want to start pushing tables together for larger bookings.

The pubs near me are still doing groups of 6 on tables outside for food, but this could be down to space as they don't have many tables.

If you're just drinking though you can turn up and stand. The pubs are all packed outside and you can't tell who is with who to count the group sizes.

We had a similar problem at the weekend. A group of around 20 of us went camping together. In Saturday afternoon 8 of us went for a lovely walk and to a pub, but we weren't allowed to sit together. It was frustrating, but we split up into two groups and took up an extra table.

Had similar and the pub insisted the rule of 6 was still the law outside! Really wound me up because they were obviously wrong. Fine if they want to have their own rules but don't bloody lecture us incorrectly about what you think the law is 🤬

@ellenpartridge had a really snotty message back to my polite enquiry about the rule of 6 outside too. You'd think they'd want to encourage business after this last year not piss customers off 🤷‍♀️