Ministers target July 4th for reopening of England’s pubs and restaurants
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After loudly telling my mates there was no way I was going into a fucking pub for the foreseeable future, I somehow ended up being the very first customer at my local at 12pm on saturday 
(I was walking past and saw the landlord setting up and got chatting)
My god that first pint was good. Never has a mass produced slightly flat lager tasted so heavenly.
(I was walking past and saw the landlord setting up and got chatting)
My god that first pint was good. Never has a mass produced slightly flat lager tasted so heavenly.
that's the theory, yeah.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Ax^
Silly Rabbit
As posted earlier up, some pubs in Wales will open this coming Monday (13th July) -- exteriors/gardens only.
And in the Welsh Government's latest announcement, we now have a date for any pub opening -- Monday 3rd August.
BBC Wales story
And in the Welsh Government's latest announcement, we now have a date for any pub opening -- Monday 3rd August.
BBC Wales story
BBC Wales said:
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That'll be the alcohol talking
I am at best half cut tbfThat'll be the alcohol talking
Spent rather lovely couple of hours in a pub garden on Friday. It was a pub we knew had a big garden and would be quite quiet. Despite it being a bit of a old school boozer I was impressed with how careful they were being. All very responsible.
Also my neighbour is a manager at a local gastro pub and he was explaining what they were doing and again all very responsible. Clear one way systems, table service and drinks being served on trays which the customer takes off the tray.
Unfortunately I also witnessed the crap side of all this. Yesterday afternoon I walked past a big local pub that likes to pretend its a gastro pub but really their food is just expensive and not very good. Its also quite a big football pub and this was during the Spurs v Arsenal match. Several large groups of men all standing tightly packed shouting and cheering. Staff nearly as close, not giving a fuck.
I've said in this thread previously I won't be going anywhere that doesn't take its responsibilities seriously and I've found my first one. In fairness if I was a bar person in that pub I wouldn't fancy having to to crowd management of a load of pissed up football fans several of who were wearing the clobber of firms. This being the case though its time to ask themselves whether they should have the footy on. Anyway, I will be going nowhere near the place.
Also my neighbour is a manager at a local gastro pub and he was explaining what they were doing and again all very responsible. Clear one way systems, table service and drinks being served on trays which the customer takes off the tray.
Unfortunately I also witnessed the crap side of all this. Yesterday afternoon I walked past a big local pub that likes to pretend its a gastro pub but really their food is just expensive and not very good. Its also quite a big football pub and this was during the Spurs v Arsenal match. Several large groups of men all standing tightly packed shouting and cheering. Staff nearly as close, not giving a fuck.
I've said in this thread previously I won't be going anywhere that doesn't take its responsibilities seriously and I've found my first one. In fairness if I was a bar person in that pub I wouldn't fancy having to to crowd management of a load of pissed up football fans several of who were wearing the clobber of firms. This being the case though its time to ask themselves whether they should have the footy on. Anyway, I will be going nowhere near the place.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
c4u
Anju
Well-Known Member
Is there anything staff can do if they're not happy with the covid measures at their workplace?
Heard from a friend who works in a bar yesterday and although the customer facing stuff is OK, though already slipping the situation back of house sounds awful. People literally brushing against each other to get to things and even when space isn't an issue other staff members are not socially distancing. Stupid stuff like several people using the same lighter on smoke breaks.
Have heard other stories of poor planning or people just ignoring things and from personal experience it's difficult to deal with people who don't care about social distancing without it becoming an awkward situation.
Government should have set up some sort of infrastructure to deal with non compliant businesses.
Heard from a friend who works in a bar yesterday and although the customer facing stuff is OK, though already slipping the situation back of house sounds awful. People literally brushing against each other to get to things and even when space isn't an issue other staff members are not socially distancing. Stupid stuff like several people using the same lighter on smoke breaks.
Have heard other stories of poor planning or people just ignoring things and from personal experience it's difficult to deal with people who don't care about social distancing without it becoming an awkward situation.
Government should have set up some sort of infrastructure to deal with non compliant businesses.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
You mean, like they did(n't) for all those sweatshops in Leicester?
This is policy, not an accident.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
They can tell their friends, who will raise it on the internet on their behalf
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Join a trade union?
I've come to the conclusion that distancing is just impossible in some work places. I imagine a lot of pubs & restaurants have tiny kitchens with several chefs in there at a time. I guess with Furlough ending at some point places are just going to have to decide whether to open unsafely or just cease trading. Not a great choice and really not good for employees who either have to show up to work and cross their fingers or not work.
I've been to a couple of building sites recently and though the majority of work initially goes on outside distancing is impossible especially in the site cabins. You just cannot do the job and distance at the same time.
I've been to a couple of building sites recently and though the majority of work initially goes on outside distancing is impossible especially in the site cabins. You just cannot do the job and distance at the same time.
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Anju
Well-Known Member
I suggested that but they're not keen as it means conflict with the owner and the other staff members who don't think it's a problem.
I realise it was too much to hope for but as the government have issued guidelines I thought maybe there would be something in place to help with enforcement of those guidelines if businesses ignored them.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Let's face it, ANYTHING is going to be a problem to owners like this - it's sweatshop mentality again.
Quite a few pubs are saying that they won't open until they feel it's safe - I assume that staff safety is a factor in that, at least in some cases.
Anju
Well-Known Member
I think with my friends situation it's more a case of the owner and other staff not believing in the seriousness of coronavirus. She's been happy with the place and pay / conditions until now.
Sweatshops are a different matter. Truly evil owners and with all the h&s laws in the world unless you reach out (can't believe I just used reach out) to the communities the workers come from and offer support they'll continue to be exploited.
Supine
Newt Member
Existing health and safety legislation covers making a workplace.covid safe where possible. It's the responsibility of both the company and the employees to work together to achieve safety where possible.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
I don't mean specifically that the pub you're describing is a sweatshop...but it seems to me that the mentality of a business owner who is prepared to operate in pretty direct contravention of the laws and guidance is pretty much the same as the kind of person who operates a factory without any regard to health and safety rules. They may not "believe" in Covid-19, the same way that the person running an overstaffed factory with no fire exits may not "believe" that they are putting their staff at risk, but the end result is the same.
Anju
Well-Known Member
It's just a difficult situation for her as she loves, or loved, her job and pulling the owner and other staff up on something they see as unnecessary isn't something she's comfortable with.
Think I'll suggest she puts something in writing in the hope that it will force the owner to ask staff to socially distance at all times rather than just with customers.
Pubs and retail premises have squeezed the kitchens/aisles and staff areas as small as possible to increase space for tables/stocks/etc. They are partly to blame here but also are dealing with unacceptable rents from landlords and pretty punitive taxes/rates, especially on the hospitality side.
It is certainly important to protect customers of course. However those customers are there for 10 minutes at a retail place or typically 1-2 hours in a pub/restaurant whereas the staff are working in small areas for 6-12 hour shifts often in the heat. Also worth noting that a lot of retail/hospitality staff live in shared houses.
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Nothing to do with the licensed trade, but I'm currently involved in a tricky situation where a workplace I have some (temporary) responsibility for is concerned. I discovered that the place was operating without any risk assessment, social distancing, or hygiene measures, and sent an email closing it down. I am now on the receiving end of some VERY heavy pressure to rescind my instructions - apparently a draft RA has been circulated (which no-one has actually seen) and the currently-off-sick CEO is making private arrangements with people to use the place, despite that currently being illegal under Welsh Government regulations.
And, like your friend's boss, the problem here is that she believes much more fuss is being made about Covid-19 than it warrants. Which is fucking scary, because she clearly has no compunction about letting those views put staff, members, and clients at risk.
We're currently trying to stop her from OKing someone using the place on the basis that she's circulated the RA and is expecting everyone to agree to it as it stands...I have very grave doubts that it will be anywhere NEAR good enough.
And, like your friend's boss, the problem here is that she believes much more fuss is being made about Covid-19 than it warrants. Which is fucking scary, because she clearly has no compunction about letting those views put staff, members, and clients at risk.
We're currently trying to stop her from OKing someone using the place on the basis that she's circulated the RA and is expecting everyone to agree to it as it stands...I have very grave doubts that it will be anywhere NEAR good enough.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
If the owner and other staff don't think its a problem your friend is in conflict with them anyway,as they would be if they brandished some guidelines to help with enforcement . Is it not possible for your friend to quietly and persistently bring the her anxieties up with other staff members , try and build some alliances?
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