I was briefly in Aldi, B&Q and a furniture shop this morning and it felt sooo good not wearing a mask in any of them. Quite a lot were, and there were the usual numbers on the street and in cars wearing them. Harrogate is just as paranoid as anywhere else, or so it seems.
Being against Covid Passports is one main reason for it. I think it's under the umbrella of 'anti-lockdown' but as Farnham points out there's a few different issues kicking around with it.
Anecdotal feedback is that it's about 70/30 in favour of wearing masks in most settings. It's more 'personal choice' day than freedom day, but it is nice seeing some hospitality businesses trading normally with people ordering at the bar. Be interesting to see what happens this weekend across the country. Whilst many will still be nervous about going out full stop, the removal of one way systems and having to book a table will allow people that freedom to make a last minute decision to go somewhere. Also the increase in covers should help places not be full as quickly which can only be a positive for small businesses.
Well, it all started when they had an affair with Sheila down the Dog and Duck, then Sharon threw them out and won't let them see the kids any more after the incident with the Spider Man costume and Buckingham Palace. It all escalated from there really...
We've got the looneys there as well 5G tracking via vacine that will kill us all in 2 years mob Not sure what you do about people like these
At the moment, I am significantly less likely to go into many places where I would have gone just a couple of weeks ago - especially with the current infection rates in this part of S Yorks. Although, it looks like we'll be going to Wales in a couple of weeks to move my daughter and will probably go for a meal with here there - I was impressed with the precautions taken last time we were there a few weeks ago. This is subject to change though..
Just a quick question... more out of curiosity really as I don't think in the near term we'll be able to take advantage.... but do you know what the general guidance/protocol is for "trying" a beer before buying it in places with more options? Thanks in advance.
I'm off to Wales on Friday and as such have cancelled band rehearsal, kids swimming lessons, 5-a-side football, pilates and various other indoor activities this week just to make sure I can go. Tesco delivery arriving just after us on Friday.
My biggest concern for hospitality is the habit that has been created out of not being able to go and enjoy a normal experience in a pub or restaurant for the last 18 months. I think it's going to take a lot of time for certain sections of society to go back to using these venues as freely as they did before, and whilst easing restrictions today will have a positive impact on the profit line due to less demands on outgoings, it won't make a significant impact on the sales line yet. The freedom to make spontaneous decisions will help though, as will the improvement in the experience once you're there.
One would guess, but not know, that it's as you were pre-restrictions but with much more focus on replenishments of glasses. If table service it's as you were and completely up to the site if they bring you three or four tasters before you dive in to a £7 pint. If you're ordering at the bar there's no reason you can't try a couple of beers before deciding which one you want. There isn't an official guidance that I've seen and will be more down to how the individual site has adopted their rules from today.
We do it as normal, even when serving at the table - I don't see the issue at all, it's not like the tasting glasses should be reused anyway!
In larger venues I'd have thought it would have had a negative impact at least for a few weeks until those who are uncomfortable with restrictions being removed have more confidence that it is safe to go. Just based on conversations with people I know.
Spontaneous decisions will definitely help - whether the experience is improved is actually quite subjective. I've quite enjoyed table service at well spaced out tables - less of an issue at the moment with al fresco dining much more the thing but when back inside it wont be quite so good in places that really crammed people in
Thanks for that... we went for a walk on Sunday (London Bridge to Canada Water through Bermondsey and Rotherhithe) and passed a couple of pubs. We'd very loosely discussed the possibility of stopping if there were no people around but the ones we passed had plenty of people and sadly we just couldn't take the risk. It did make us think of yesteryear and tap rooms and made us wonder how things may have changed, particularly with tasters, hence the question. So thanks for that. We've a couple of guide books with walks all over London, so I think if we landed somewhere that wasn't busy, where we could sit outside away from others, we wouldn't have issue with the safety of how the place actually operated.
Saw a bloke up in Penistone high street with his arms aloft shouting 'fk the masks, we're finally free'. Mighta been sunlighter