How was the "new normal" pub/cafe experience for you?

[johnnychips]

Haha! no it took me years along with frequent visits to the same ones over and over plus lots of independents.

We’re probably OT, but out of all that lot, what was your favourite?

 

[Jamesrob637]

We’re probably OT, but out of all that lot, what was your favourite?

Depends really! The Moon Under Water on Deansgate gets the nicest ladies who have usually been for a meal at one of the nice restaurants off Deansgate (then make up for spending loads on the meal with cheap drinks - well why not?!) If you're younger and single, the Great Central in Fallowfield has nice student action, and so does the Ford Madox Brown just the City end of the Curry Mile in Rusholme. I used to get quite lucky in the 'Spoons in the Printworks too before the days of commitment. In fact there's no actual "favourite", it depends what you're looking for.

I am coming over to your neck of t'woods to clear the remaining Sheffield and Rotherham branches before too long.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Now here's me going into 'Spoons for a pint and a cheap fry-up...clearly they have more on offer than I thought

 

[Jamesrob637]

Now here's me going into 'Spoons for a pint and a cheap fry-up...clearly they have more on offer than I thought

Last thing OT from me: women are good to find in a 'Spoons at 11pm on a weekend. You're welcome

Back on topic, time to frequent some independents over the rest of the week and see how they're faring.

 

[DannyMich2018]

First experience for me:- (with my partner)- decided to go to the local what I've been in most Saturdays the last 4 years, it was locked in with a notice to say please knock on the door-I did do, to my amazement the young lad who answered told me I'm not a regular and cannot come in!!!-Well I am as I've came in with my friends at least every other Saturday since 2016 and occasional weekdays!!!-well I'm not gonna again....-No probs at all in the Tarro Lounge or Elbow Room with no probs also in the New Baron (ex Wetherspoons) and Union Inn. Some places weren't opening till this week but a good experience and very surprised the prices haven't gone up (well maybe just a little). I wouldn't say though it was as busy as I thought it would be and defo not a busy as a normal Sat would be but not bad.

 

[nlogax]

This weekend I'll be returning to a pub for the first time since, oof, February. I'm not a hugely regular pub-goer but honestly I'm really looking forward to it! Some beers, some sun, some (distanced) good company. Bring it on.

 

[telstarbox]

Among other measures just announced, VAT in hospitality (including pubs and restaurants) is going down to 5% for the next few months. That's effectively a 12.5% discount if current pre-tax prices are maintained.

 

[Domh245]

I admire your optimism! I think it's far more likely that the prices stay the same from the customer's point of view and the extra 12.5% is pocketed by the establishment, which isn't necessarily a bad thing given the lack of custom the past few months and presumably lower custom for the forseeable!

 

[Mojo]

I admire your optimism! I think it's far more likely that the prices stay the same from the customer's point of view and the extra 12.5% is pocketed by the establishment, which isn't necessarily a bad thing given the lack of custom the past few months and presumably lower custom for the forseeable!

But it’s okay, because the government has just nationalised the Taste card

 

[GusB]

I'm currently sitting in the outdoor area at my local, and it's a far more pleasant experience than Monday's. For a start there's only a gentle breeze and the sun is shining. Secondly there aren't as many people - I'm the only punter here, in fact.

On Monday a lot of people were here just for the occasion and, according to the manager, they'd booked the day off work specially.

I'm about to order my third pint now

 

[Jamesrob637]

I'm currently sitting in the outdoor area at my local, and it's a far more pleasant experience than Monday's. For a start there's only a gentle breeze and the sun is shining. Secondly there aren't as many people - I'm the only punter here, in fact.

On Monday a lot of people were here just for the occasion and, according to the manager, they'd booked the day off work specially.

I'm about to order my third pint now

Ah I knew there was another reason to avoid Monday! Enjoy your pint.

 

[Skymonster]

Among other measures just announced, VAT in hospitality (including pubs and restaurants) is going down to 5% for the next few months. That's effectively a 12.5% discount if current pre-tax prices are maintained.

It'd be nice to see the reduction used to entice more customers back into hospitality venues, but if the prices remain the same and the excess goes to people who have lost out over the last three months I have no problem with that (mostly that is - if it goes to staff and independents yes, not interested in Tim Martin getting a windfall).

 

[NorthOxonian]

I waited a few days to let the situation settle, but this evening I took the plunge and went to two pubs. One was a Wetherspoons and one a fairly trendy independent.

In both cases I found the experience as enjoyable as before, and far from the dystopia I was expecting. Neither asked for tracing information or even offered forms, but both had good hygiene measures in place. There seemed to be some social distancing, but not to the extent that it felt isolated. The only problem was that both had slightly confusing one-way systems, and the independent opted to put all of its staff in masks (though they admitted they weren't keen!).

But overall things feel far more normal than I had hoped - not exactly the same as before, but not really worse.

 

[Barnsley]

Talking of cafes, does anyone know if Huddersfield station buffet's open yet ?

It opened on Monday!!

 

[yorksrob]

It opened on Monday!!

Superb - That's good to know !

 

[Cowley]

Popped up to The Imperial (nearest Wetherspoons) for a quick pint and a pizza but was dismayed to find a queue right along the carpark.
Ended up driving to Tesco’s, buying some nice pizzas and beer, and staying in at our much more local pub ‘The Dog & Front Room’.
I’m not doing the standing in a carpark thing. It’s all going to have to change before I start spending money in there again...


(* The only thing about our home pub is that the dog likes pizza crusts so much that steam starts coming out of his ears when he stares at you while you’re eating)

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Popped up to The Imperial (nearest Wetherspoons) for a quick pint and a pizza but was dismayed to find a queue right along the carpark.
Ended up driving to Tesco’s, buying some nice pizzas and beer, and staying in at our much more local pub ‘The Dog & Front Room’.
I’m not doing the standing in a carpark thing. It’s all going to have to change before I start spending money in there again...


(* The only thing about our home pub is that the dog likes pizza crusts so much that steam starts coming out of his ears when he stares at you while you’re eating)

Can't say I blame you, Wetherspoon's are a bit hit and miss at the moment. I went in one in Doncaster on Tuesday and it was quite laid back, you could get served at the bar if you wished to and could sit wherever you wanted. Then yesterday in Leeds they had a chap on the door at Beckett's Bank advising that there was no space inside but I could have an outdoor table ( it was raining so I declined!).

The one at Leeds station is still shut and, by the looks of it from the outside, won't be reopening any time soon.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Well I had a nice chicken burger at a local of mine last night, not a Wethers but Robinsons, okay a chain but a local chain only, and I was happy to pay however much it and two ciders cost. Price is almost immaterial right now as long as I can sense that they're not trying to over inflate things.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The Engineers at Harpenden Common - always a good pub and not changed. No issue in being allocated a table with service , menu as varied as ever. Best of all 2 pints of Doombar. Decent burger and properly cooked chips. Maybe 15 there for lunch with good spacing. Had it not rained , we would have sat in the beer garden.

 

[Busaholic]

I can see this thread is mostly wedded to the pub experience, but here's the depressing cafe experience in deepest Cornwall as of this afternoon, when tourists and visitors are beginning to drift back, though heaven knows why unless you have friends/family down here.

My wife had a 2.30 appt at the hairdresser in Helston, which is an approx half hour drive from us, and she doesn't drive. As our usual lunchtime dogwalking area was on the way, we left early and took the dog, who wasn't keen on walking in the drizzle, so we arrived in Helston at 2.05, and I parked outside the Wetherspoon's, which was both open and almost empty. I knew the Town Council, in its infinite wisdom, had closed off the other main shopping street to car traffic,and therefore the large number of 30 minute free parking spots, to allow 'sufficient social distancing to be maintained between shoppers', the idea (I can only surmise) being that you could walk in the former one way traffic lane and the empty parking spaces. The reality was that no-one (other than me, briefly) did so, but that was no surprise as you had about 100 yards average distance between people on the street. About a quarter of the shops were closed and empty, another 10% probably closed for good but still bearing evidence of a previous existence, and many of the rest had either not reopened 'yet' or had bars to accessing the shop with staff requiring you state what you might want at the entrance. All I wanted was a cup of coffee, as I'd had nothing to drink for about three hours, preferably with SOMEWHERE to sit down to drink it, but the latter was impossible even in the places that had deigned to reopen, which didn't include the quite nice Costa. In the end, near to where I'd parked, I found a joint cafe/barbers but the cafe part was takeaway only despite the presence of a very large, unoccupied table, well away from the counter - I was informed it was for barber's clients who'd arrived early for their appt. So, having paid £5.30 for a small cappuccino and caramel shortbread, card only of course, I had to take it back to my car. There was nothing to carry my handleless plastic cup in, I wasn't offered sugar until I asked for some, and I struggled back down the wet street with it in one hand, the other being reserved for the stick without which I'm effectively immobile. Yes, I know, should have gone into Spoons, but I really didn't want filling in of forms just to get a cup of coffee. On the long way round out of town I stopped at Sainsbury's to use their loo, as I was desperate, to discover they were barricaded off, unlike the ones in Penzance where I live. Welcome to Helston - now p*** off!!

 

[NorthOxonian]

I can see this thread is mostly wedded to the pub experience, but here's the depressing cafe experience in deepest Cornwall as of this afternoon, when tourists and visitors are beginning to drift back, though heaven knows why unless you have friends/family down here.

My wife had a 2.30 appt at the hairdresser in Helston, which is an approx half hour drive from us, and she doesn't drive. As our usual lunchtime dogwalking area was on the way, we left early and took the dog, who wasn't keen on walking in the drizzle, so we arrived in Helston at 2.05, and I parked outside the Wetherspoon's, which was both open and almost empty. I knew the Town Council, in its infinite wisdom, had closed off the other main shopping street to car traffic,and therefore the large number of 30 minute free parking spots, to allow 'sufficient social distancing to be maintained between shoppers', the idea (I can only surmise) being that you could walk in the former one way traffic lane and the empty parking spaces. The reality was that no-one (other than me, briefly) did so, but that was no surprise as you had about 100 yards average distance between people on the street. About a quarter of the shops were closed and empty, another 10% probably closed for good but still bearing evidence of a previous existence, and many of the rest had either not reopened 'yet' or had bars to accessing the shop with staff requiring you state what you might want at the entrance. All I wanted was a cup of coffee, as I'd had nothing to drink for about three hours, preferably with SOMEWHERE to sit down to drink it, but the latter was impossible even in the places that had deigned to reopen, which didn't include the quite nice Costa. In the end, near to where I'd parked, I found a joint cafe/barbers but the cafe part was takeaway only despite the presence of a very large, unoccupied table, well away from the counter - I was informed it was for barber's clients who'd arrived early for their appt. So, having paid £5.30 for a small cappuccino and caramel shortbread, card only of course, I had to take it back to my car. There was nothing to carry my handleless plastic cup in, I wasn't offered sugar until I asked for some, and I struggled back down the wet street with it in one hand, the other being reserved for the stick without which I'm effectively immobile. Yes, I know, should have gone into Spoons, but I really didn't want filling in of forms just to get a cup of coffee. On the long way round out of town I stopped at Sainsbury's to use their loo, as I was desperate, to discover they were barricaded off, unlike the ones in Penzance where I live. Welcome to Helston - now p*** off!!

Perhaps it's different down in Helston, but in the Wetherspoons I visited yesterday there were no forms to fill in (I couldn't see any or a box to put them in). Even in the pubs which have them I believe they are only voluntary, though recommended.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Perhaps it's different down in Helston, but in the Wetherspoons I visited yesterday there were no forms to fill in (I couldn't see any or a box to put them in). Even in the pubs which have them I believe they are only voluntary, though recommended.

This is the Wetherspoons flyer I picked up in Doncaster. You're advised to fill it in and drop it off in a box by the exit as you leave but there's no one insisting that you do so. To me this seems a much better arrangement than most as it specifies what time you were actually in the pub so you won't be contacted if someone carrying the virus came into the pub several hours after you left!.

 

[NorthOxonian]

This is the Wetherspoons flyer I picked up in Doncaster. You're advised to fill it in and drop it off in a box by the exit as you leave but there's no one insisting that you do so. To me this seems a much better arrangement than most as it specifies what time you were actually in the pub so you won't be contacted if someone carrying the virus came into the pub several hours after you left!.

The only further improvement might be adding table number - in some of the larger Wetherspoons (particularly ones with multiple floors or bars) the different parts of the pub are very clearly distinct and most people will stick to just one.

 

[sheff1]

I can see this thread is mostly wedded to the pub experience, but here's the depressing cafe experience in deepest Cornwall as of this afternoon ....

I knew it has been made clear that visitors are NOT WELCOME in Cornwall, but didn't realise that also extended to visitors from other parts of Cornwall .

 

[Journeyman]

As I'm now heartily sick of Sturgeon's control freakery, I'm fleeing across the border for a day out tomorrow - any good suggestions for lunch in Berwick-upon-Tweed?

 

[sheff1]

As I'm now heartily sick of Sturgeon's control freakery, I'm fleeing across the border for a day out tomorrow - any good suggestions for lunch in Berwick-upon-Tweed?

Last year I had good lunches in Berwick at Foxtons (Hide Hill) and the Queens Head (Sandgate).

 

[Journeyman]

I have had good lunches in Berwick at Foxtons (Hide Hill) and the Queens Head (Sandgate).

Cool, I'll look out for them!

 

[nlogax]

Went out for some drinks and food with a mate last night here in SW London. We thought we'd stay to eat at the pub but all the tables were booked from 7 so we ventured to one of the local curry houses which had just reopened. First restaurant I've eaten in since February! Names and phone numbers were collected (QR code to online form at the pub, paper form at the restaurant) - zero problems or fuss, just a really good time.

People need to get out there and support these places otherwise they'll go to the wall. The sooner we all get past the stage of 'the novelty of normality' the better.

 

[Huntergreed]

Went out for some drinks and food with a mate last night here in SW London. We thought we'd stay to eat at the pub but all the tables were booked from 7 so we ventured to one of the local curry houses which had just reopened. First restaurant I've eaten in since February! Names and phone numbers were collected (QR code to online form at the pub, paper form at the restaurant) - zero problems or fuss, just a really good time.

People need to get out there and support these places otherwise they'll go to the wall. The sooner we all get past the stage of 'the novelty of normality' the better.

Sadly my experience is many people are still afraid of the virus and won't go out.

This is the effect of three months of fear mongering by BJ and Whitty, mandating masks on public transport (reminds people of danger constantly), endlessly saying people need to social distance and avoid everyone else or they'll die, and announcing daily deaths (often 100+), which is more than enough to make a good proportion of society not feel safe or comfortable going out, and I can totally understand why. We need to change our approach, but I don't have much faith that we will and I still expect the Friday night doom-laden briefings with Whitty will go on for a while yet, reminding people to 'be responsible' (which to a lot of people means 'stay at home') over the weekend or they'll die or kill their family

 

[nlogax]

We need to change our approach, but I don't have much faith that we will and I still expect the Friday night doom-laden briefings with Whitty will go on for a while yet, reminding people to 'be responsible' (which to a lot of people means 'stay at home') over the weekend or they'll die or kill their family

We had a sobering moment walking between the backstreet pub and the restaurant last night. This grand realisation of just how screwed the country will be if people stay at home. Our high street, usually busy well into the evening, absolutely deserted. It felt like a small US town..nearly all the shops closed, about a quarter of them permanently shuttered. None of the high street pubs open other than Wetherspoons. Just a few Deliveroo and Uber Eats folk waiting to whisk deliveries to people camped indoors.

Don't know about you but I don't know of anyone who watches those briefings anymore!