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Original poster

To think most people would prefer pubs and restaurants close in December than miss out on Christmas with their families again.

450 replies

katedan · 21/10/2021 08:40

Plan C of the health secretaries plan if numbers continue to rise and masks and SD don't work is to ban people going around peoples homes again, surely it is better and safer as it will be less people together if they close bars and restaurants and let people have Christmas with family this year.

OP posts:
SpinsForGin · 23/10/2021 12:24

@frozendaisy

What a sterile life with no events or hospitality?

Rather vaccine/Covid passports than closure.

Totally agree.
DottyHarmer · 23/10/2021 12:36

No wonder the takenforgrantednana person is taken for granted. Sounds like a right ray of sunshine.

It’s typical that people who never dine out, or visit the theatre or go anywhere at all really are so keen to bellow for closure of hospitality. There is a crossover too with those who seem to feel particularly malevolent towards all young people. They are just bitter miseries.

LadySilence · 23/10/2021 12:44

Surely OP you must realise different people would prioritise different things. I live alone, my only family are 400 miles away and even if I did go to see them it would be a dreary affair. My Christmas is all about friends, meals, pubs and music, so of course I wouldn't want that taken away. Not everyone has the big jolly family Christmas you know.

TheVampiresWife · 23/10/2021 12:44

@DottyHarmer

No wonder the takenforgrantednana person is taken for granted. Sounds like a right ray of sunshine.

It’s typical that people who never dine out, or visit the theatre or go anywhere at all really are so keen to bellow for closure of hospitality. There is a crossover too with those who seem to feel particularly malevolent towards all young people. They are just bitter miseries.

Agree. Life devoid of cultural pastimes is no life at all.

And the implication that those who 'go off out to pubs' are irresponsible idiots is insulting and offensive. For many the pub is the hub of the community, particularly to those who live rurally or alone.

Pythonista · 23/10/2021 13:34

Actually people derive 'cultural pastimes' from all kinds of sources.

And implying those who don't go out are 'bitter miseries' is as bad as saying that people who go to the pub are arseholes.

dilly123 · 23/10/2021 14:05

The hospitality & small independent retail industry is on its knees, people's mental health due to feeling so isolated for so long is also on its knees... there should be no further restrictions on life mandated if you decide to restrict contact with the public & your family that should be your decision!

The media are too fascinated with case numbers... the tiniest percentage of these will require anything more than a couple of paracetamol just like any coronavirus (common cold).. The fear mongering needs to stop!

LovingBob · 23/10/2021 15:52

I don't use pubs and restaurants so wouldn't really care if they shut, we only see DS at Christmas and would just pay the fines if we were caught meeting illicitly

Pythonista · 23/10/2021 16:05

People are dicks. Just because you don't go to pubs (as in fact I don't either), why are you happy for people to lose their jobs and businesses?

BananaPB · 23/10/2021 16:08

What about family Christmases that depend on income from pubs and hospitality ?

Nobody is going to follow a ban on family mixing this time.

Treblebass · 23/10/2021 16:11

Neither would do much good. Not much point shutting bars and restaurants when people will meet up inside each other’s homes. The compliance has gone, all that would be achieved if they did this was loss of jobs and a knock on effect to the economy.

A pointless endeavour all round.

julieca · 23/10/2021 16:14

I think the revelation that Boris Johnson ignored the rules last Xmas has killed any last chance of compliance.

Pythonista · 23/10/2021 16:17

@julieca

I think the revelation that Boris Johnson ignored the rules last Xmas has killed any last chance of compliance.
Apparently nobody was going to bother complying anyway so why does it matter?
julieca · 23/10/2021 16:19

@Pythonista people are more compliant in real life than on MN threads. But I have heard a lot of anger about this from people who have complied all the way through. People feel foolish. And nobody likes being made to feel foolish.

Treblebass · 23/10/2021 16:21

@julieca

In real life they have never been as compliant as what they have been on mumsnet so we clearly have very different experiences.

Pythonista · 23/10/2021 16:21

Well that's okay. People can do what they want, but as I said upthread, they can't then whine if it kicks off in the new year and the schools are closed etc.

SpinsForGin · 23/10/2021 16:24

I don't use pubs and restaurants so wouldn't really care if they shut

I'm pretty sure people who work in pubs and restaurants care. I suspect those businesses/sectors that rely on pubs and restaurants being open also care.

DoubleDeckerSwimmer · 23/10/2021 16:26

@katedan

Plan C of the health secretaries plan if numbers continue to rise and masks and SD don't work is to ban people going around peoples homes again, surely it is better and safer as it will be less people together if they close bars and restaurants and let people have Christmas with family this year.
I would not prefer this. All the family I am able to see live in my house.
Treblebass · 23/10/2021 16:29

@Pythonista

Why do you think schools will close? My kids primary and secondary schools have been absolutely riddled with covid and PHE have kept them open.

Staff also don’t all get ill at the same time so schools closing because of a lack of staff will be the odd one here and there not blanket closures.

DoubleShotEspresso · 23/10/2021 16:30

Personally I couldn't care if pub's closed forever.
But as an ex hospitality professional what I've witnessed during this time is awfully heartbreaking. So much young talent wasted , so many communities losing their centre points and all the suppliers in the mix sinking...
Nobody should be forced into this level of despair again it's awful.
I'd rather see football and other large scale events shut first tbh, these are at least accessible in other methods.

Pythonista · 23/10/2021 16:31

[quote Treblebass]@Pythonista

Why do you think schools will close? My kids primary and secondary schools have been absolutely riddled with covid and PHE have kept them open.

Staff also don’t all get ill at the same time so schools closing because of a lack of staff will be the odd one here and there not blanket closures.[/quote]
It's no more or less likely than any other measure.

I have no skin in the game - I don't have children, I don't care if the schools are open or shut.

Treblebass · 23/10/2021 16:32

@Pythonista

Fair enough but I don’t agree with your comment. Closing schools carries far more weight than bringing in lighter restrictions such as mask wearing etc. it’s always the very last resort.

TheKeatingFive · 23/10/2021 16:33

Schools would be the absolute last thing to close.

ExceptionalAssurance · 23/10/2021 16:34

@TheKeatingFive

Schools would be the absolute last thing to close.
Yeah it would be politically and economically catastrophic.
Pythonista · 23/10/2021 16:36

Yes I understand that. But if numbers go through the roof after Christmas, the effect on the country will potentially be horrific. The economy, the education etc will be affected

Treblebass · 23/10/2021 16:38

Well I guess we will have to wait and see but I’m not so sure about schools.

A very, very large amount of kids have had covid now in my kids school and it hasn’t closed.

I’m not sure just shutting bars and restaurants is the answer to this.