Any pub that requires me to pre-book online won’t be getting my business.
Pub owners have warned customers to only turn up if they have pre-booked a table as bosses prepare to reopen after being shut for more than three months.
Customers are expected to be allowed back into pubs from July 4 as they are allowed to open again after shutting on March 20 just before lockdown began.
But pub-goers may be asked to register before having a drink at their local under plans to limit the spread of Covid-19 as England’s hospitality industry reopens.
Fuck off. Seriously, just fuck off. Covid-19 will go the same way that Hon Kong flu did and SARS, MERS, Swine Flu and all the others. If pubs want me to book online, then I refuse. I don’t need them.
Did the big shop today. No queueing, I think because it is a weekday and lots of furloughed workers have gone back to work. They are still doing all the distancing stuff but it seems that people are becoming much more relaxed about it. Daily new cases graph is below a thousand again and has now been falling for four or five days. A few people are wearing masks, often with their noses poking over the top.
I have a watch that nags me about being fit but it is a fitness watch so I think that is acceptable really.
Still no rush hour here but many more cars around during what used to be the working day.
Hardly anyone wearing masks, except at bus stops, certainly not supermarkets workers.
There was one very prissy looking couple with matching face gags and those plastic gloves Police use to look up druggies rear ends.
I expect they will strip naked in their back garden and put all their clothes in the washing machine which will fortuitously be in the semi-detached Utility Room.
Rather apt ‘Matt’ cartoon in the ‘graph today.
I’m sure our local will have a clientele almost exclusively called M.Mouse of Foxtrot Oscar Avenue Drive.
Oh wait. Do we sense a need for ID cards (again)….
Oh, I think we might.
Not only that but I’m inclined to think that I won’t be visiting Greene King pubs (or drinking their beer) any more.
If they were to trumpet donations to real charities (British Legion, H for H, etc) I could change my mind – after seeing the proof.
Do make sure to let them know why and especially their publicans, can’t help out as they don’t operate around here.
I suspect that the pubs are just doing their best to comply with government guidelines mainly because they still appear to be supported by public opinion. If they all got together and opened normally on mass, I don’t see that there would be anything that the authorities could do. I suspect that the silent majority would then vote with their feet.
I spent most of my later teens all my twenties and into my thirties drinking 2-3 pints during the week and somewhat more at the weekend (so a hopeless alcoholic by today’s standards).
By personal choice that steadily declined and came to an end with the smoking ban (all part of the bansturbaters plan).
The last time I had an evening in the pub was to enjoy the nostalgia of walking there and back in the crispy snow.
I had intended to visit again a couple of days after re-opening to show support to local businesses (as I have done with the nearby chippy and car wash) but like yourself
there is no way I will put up with that nonsense. Shame because my riverside local is a lovely pub.
You might think they asked Alcohol Concern what is the best way to totally screw the pub trade and this is what they came back with.
Added to which in two years time with Covid a fading memory and people start wondering what happened to the Independent pubs we will be told it is all our fault they went bust since we were too scared to go in them even though we were told it was safe: C U N T S
I might turn up and ask to be admitted. If refused I will remind the landlord I can get 4 pints of Carlsberg Export (ABV 5%) from the Co-Op for £6. That’s less than 2 pints in his pub. See if greed or desperation wins. Problem is I know him personally and the landlord of the pub in the next village too. What a quandary!
The Daily mash is with you on this.
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/alcohol/why-bother-with-pubs-when-we-can-get-pissed-in-our-gardens-for-half-the-price-asks-britain-20200624197799
From my local: ” we will be reopening on the 4th July but that it is bookings only, whether for food or just a casual drink.”
Not exactly a casual drink then.
And the hotel side is hardly welcoming:
Our Residents
• Your temperature will be taken at the hotel entrance and if your temperature is 38 degrees or above you, unfortunately, you will be declined entry and your stay re-scheduled.
• Please respect the social distancing measures in place
• We have cleaned your bedroom with extra care and sanitised it in line with government guidelines
• We have removed non-essential items to minimise any contamination risk
• Please use your bedroom toilet rather than toilets in public areas
• Please wash your hands when returning to your bedroom
Our Hotel
• Room service will be provided at no extra cost, service is restricted to delivery to the bedroom door
• Social distancing measures will be in place in all common areas
• A one way system throughout the hotel will be implemented where possible
• Lifts will only be available for use by prior arrangement with management
• Signage will be displayed in all common areas to reinforce social distancing message
• Enhanced cleaning programme in public areas with an increased frequency in disinfection of high touch areas
• Hand sanitising stations will be provided at every doorway/key public area (front desk, restaurant, spa, toilets)
• Housekeeping will be available on request only, guests to vacate room and ventilate prior to housekeeping staff entering