In Tier 2 Pubs Can Only Open If Serving Meals

[dave50]

There will be a lot of very long lunches with people eating very slow.

[dave50]

Well as I said some very long lunches, the food will take a couple of hours to eat and nobody can say anything.

[drmorgans]

The owners know that if they act reasonably, only serving drinks with meals, trying to make sure that groups are from the household etc. that the police won't hassle them. The pubs and restaurants that will have problems are the ones that persistently break the rules, not serving large groups of drinkers, staying open late.

[diddlydo]

Anyway what's a "substantial meal"? Obviously not just a bag of crisps but what about just a sandwich/plate of chips?

[iluvmargie]

How on earth can the pubs ascertain people are from the same household ? People lie you know!

[Zacs-Master]

4 adult couples probably aren’t. We’re off out twice next weekend and have booked adjoining tables for our friends and ourselves.

[bobbinwales]

Usually they give you a slot for maybe 90 minutes, 2 hours max and you dont need to make your pizza last all night. Just take your time choosing if your desparate to cram as many drinks down as you can if it makes you feel your getting one over on are elected representatives

[New Judge]

//Well, the customer would be being disrespectful to the owners trying to keep their business afloat with legal obligations in place.//

Well before we say that we don’t know exactly what their obligations will be. The earlier “drinks only with a meal” legislation said this (which may also help diddlydo):

"16.—(1) A person responsible for carrying on a business of a public house, bar or other business involving the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises must cease to carry on that business, unless paragraph (2) applies.

(2) This paragraph applies if alcohol is only served for consumption on the premises as part of a table meal, and the meal is such as might be expected to be served as the main midday or main evening meal, or as a main course at either such meal."

I have a suspicion that this remark has been made by a spokesman faced with an unplanned question from the media. Yes, your drinks should only be served as part of your meal. But the headline gives the impression that you will be thrown out as soon as you put down your cutlery. As dr says above, pub and restaurant managers will use their common sense to comply with the law.

[Zacs-Master]

I’m pretty sure it will be exactly the same. Will you be venturing out, NJ, or do you still live in a strange little microcosm where you have police outside your door making sure you’re staying indoors?

[pixie374]

I did wonder if that was the reason, zacs... in theory, it makes no sense, as I would be there far longer to have "a substantial meal" than to have a drink. Which seems an odd decision.
But, maybe it is about helping the businesses more, or trying to keep people in longer, so there are less "changeovers" of customers.

[ToraToraTora]

ZM 14:50, yes if it's an actual restaurant they'll be keen to get the next sitting in especially if you've stopped spending. In the pubs that do food that are primarily a pub they'll get more creative. I suspect they'll let you order something minor and sit there as long as you are drinking. I will be testing this theory next Saturday!

[Zacs-Master]

It is about helping businesses. It’s also about people being able to have some semblance of normality. To suggest that some people might get ‘shirty’ about leaving when asked to misses both these points.

[ToraToraTora]

pixie/ZM, the "substantial meal" must be something they can do, it does not mean you have to order one. They are just trying to stop the "cheese roll" brigade with that one.

[Zacs-Master]

Me too Tora. But I won’t kick off if I’m asked to leave. I’ll just be grateful that I was able to be there.

[bobbinwales]

Yes, am sure some will just order as little as possible foodwise- kids fish fingers and beans or similar Plus 4 pints. Its not a problem if its table service and tables are set out based on social distancing, everything is clean and peopel stay at tables except for toilet visits, and peopel leave by the end of there booked slot

[janzman]

What if scenario....
Four people go into pub and order a 'substantial' meal, lets just say for example steak and ale pie veg and chips. Then they order drinks. They get their drinks and are then told that due to 'very high demand' (allegedly) waiting time for food is 1.5 hours. No problems say they and continue to drink knowing their food order is in the system. 2.00 hours later the four claim 'I'm not waiting any longer for my food and up and leave having spent over two hours drinking when they had no intention of eating at all....Just a thought..

[dannyk13]

janzman, it is likely that they would be served with their drinks at the same time as the meal.

[New Judge]

//I’m pretty sure it will be exactly the same. Will you be venturing out, NJ, or do you still live in a strange little microcosm where you have police outside your door making sure you’re staying indoors?//

I’ve been venturing out with my “reasonable excuses” since Nov 5th, Zacs. And as I explained earlier, the chances of any Plod appearing in my neck of the woods are minimal to say the least. My objection to the latest legislation is not that it will be enforced (because it can’t) but that it should even be considered.

//It is about helping businesses. It’s also about people being able to have some semblance of normality. To suggest that some people might get ‘shirty’ about leaving when asked to misses both these points.//

It’s not remotely normal to be asked to leave a pub when you’re behaving yourself and still willing to spend. It’s also not helping the business. But I suppose it’s more normal than the pub being shut. That said, I don’t believe this will be an issue.

[mushroom25]

// What if scenario.... //

unlikely at present, simply because the venue wouldn't be allowed to have that many customers on the premises.

[New Judge]

//..the "substantial meal" must be something they can do, it does not mean you have to order one. //

Yes you do, Tora (or at least you will if the legislation remains roughly the same). See above.

[janzman]

I think most pubs have you pay for food when ordering so lets say this is a restaurant where the bill is payed at the end of the meal.