Pubs seem to think they're re-opening

[Garam]

I live in Leith and i've heard drunken screaming outside of my window most nights since the reopening, but ok...

[Sebastian Cobb]

This got forwarded to me, from the old stomping ground https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-13-test-positive-for-covid-19-after-visiting-aberdeen-bar-12041072

That place is a pretty big pub (two differently named bars with a walkway). It's in a fairly plush area with two big roomy bars and run quite responsibly (same family that own The St Machar Bar in Aberdeen University). There are other bars that will be more of a risk through layout and more likely to be playing fast and loose with it.

[dissolute ocelot]

I went to the pub for the first time on Sunday, out for a walk in north Edinburgh and nipped into an outdoor seated area. Guy in high-viz vest wiping tables and controlling access, beer in plastic glasses, quite pleasant (aside from lack of glassware) but about as far as I want to go just now.

I'm not sure that Scotland opening pubs has made much difference to levels of craziness. It's probably got some people off the streets compared to when they were doing takeaways and pavements were clogged with people. Start of the football season up here will probably make it worse though, just because football must be accompanied by alcohol and lairiness to overcome the dreary reality.

[Sebastian Cobb]

My boss said he wanted to organise a pub trip so we could see each other face-to-face in a conversation about how they're still figuring out how people can work safely (spaced out) in the office (which will probably involve desk sharing while teams have a nominated day where they come in), for fuck's sake.

[Duckula]

This got forwarded to me, from the old stomping ground https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-13-test-positive-for-covid-19-after-visiting-aberdeen-bar-12041072

That place is a pretty big pub (two differently named bars with a walkway). It's in a fairly plush area with two big roomy bars and run quite responsibly (same family that own The St Machar Bar in Aberdeen University). There are other bars that will be more of a risk through layout and more likely to be playing fast and loose with it.

Not worth getting put on a vent for is it.

[Sebastian Cobb]

Not worth getting put on a vent for is it.

Indeed, which is why I'm staying away from pubs.

[Jockice]

I went to a pub yesterday evening with a couple of friends. It was a nice evening and we found a bench outside and sat there. A few minutes later the husband of an old friend walked past saw me and said hello. Then the old friend came across to have a chat. I used to know her quite well - we were regulars in the same pubs and clubs during our 20s and even had a couple of snogs - but we hadn't seen each other in person for around 15 years. So we had a lot to catch up on. Then after probably a couple of minutes a staff member came over and demanded that she went back to where she'd originally been sitting.

I mean, what the fuck? Even sadder is that she did so and we didn't speak to each other for the rest of the evening till I was leaving. Is this some sort of new rule? You're not allowed to talk to someone who's not in your group even in the open air? How strange.

I was also approached that evening by someone who claimed to know (and indeed be Facebook friends with) me. She mentioned a couple of mutuals, asking if I ever saw them. Er very occasionally. But I haven't the slightest idea who you are. Sorry. Not that I said that of course. Just bluffed. Probably for the best. She wasn't told to go away and sit down though.

[Sebastian Cobb]

Stood queuing to get into a homebrew shop (1 person at a time) in direct sunlight with my mop of dark hair cooking under the sun next to a good cafe/bar with outdoor seating. First time I've really missed pubs tbh. Was tempted but had other stuff to do.

I got really hot and bothered and wished I hadn't bothered going outside, all things considered.

[BlodwynPig]

I went to a pub yesterday evening with a couple of friends. It was a nice evening and we found a bench outside and sat there. A few minutes later the husband of an old friend walked past saw me and said hello. Then the old friend came across to have a chat. I used to know her quite well - we were regulars in the same pubs and clubs during our 20s and even had a couple of snogs - but we hadn't seen each other in person for around 15 years. So we had a lot to catch up on. Then after probably a couple of minutes a staff member came over and demanded that she went back to where she'd originally been sitting.

I mean, what the fuck? Even sadder is that she did so and we didn't speak to each other for the rest of the evening till I was leaving. Is this some sort of new rule? You're not allowed to talk to someone who's not in your group even in the open air? How strange.

I was also approached that evening by someone who claimed to know (and indeed be Facebook friends with) me. She mentioned a couple of mutuals, asking if I ever saw them. Er very occasionally. But I haven't the slightest idea who you are. Sorry. Not that I said that of course. Just bluffed. Probably for the best. She wasn't told to go away and sit down though.

Rules is rules. Should have arranged a zoom for later using smoke signals.

[beanheadmcginty]

If you go to the Sir John Oldcastle on Farringdon road on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, you can order a BLT with a pint and it's a penny less than just a pint on its own. They accidentally gave me chips as well, so that's another quid saved.

[dissolute ocelot]

A pub I follow on social media is now saying you should wear a mask to enter, leave, move about the bar, order stuff, go to toilets, etc. Presumably any time you're not eating or pressing a glass to your face. I guess it will marginally reduce risks, and might encourage people to stay in their little space rather than wander around/talk to strangers, but it certainly doesn't encourage me to go there. It'll be masks with straw holes next.

[bgmnts]

Might be going the pub up the hill for a quiz tomorrow, apparently you have to book it. 'kin 'ell.

[Sebastian Cobb]

A pub I follow on social media is now saying you should wear a mask to enter, leave, move about the bar, order stuff, go to toilets, etc. Presumably any time you're not eating or pressing a glass to your face. I guess it will marginally reduce risks, and might encourage people to stay in their little space rather than wander around/talk to strangers, but it certainly doesn't encourage me to go there. It'll be masks with straw holes next.

It probably does more harm than good touching surfaces, doorhandles etc then touching their masks/faces.

[olliebean]

If you go to the Sir John Oldcastle on Farringdon road on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, you can order a BLT with a pint and it's a penny less than just a pint on its own.

Is that because they're overcharging for the BLT and getting Rishi Sunak to pay half, then using the extra profit to cover the cost of the pint?

[Hand Solo]

One pint outside a village pub during a long bike ride earlier:



It was sort of one in and out to the bar at a time, and only seemed to be one table of people inside a large pub/restaurant section. They've put astroturf outside the pub to make it seem more summery and inviting:



One pint and that's it for my Saturday, Christ I've got boring.

[Cloud]

Seems that some places are strict and others just rely on Common Sense (TM) - they'll let people mix at ours as long as they're sat down and not taking the piss. They do gently remind people to use a lead if their dog ends up socialising

[Jockice]

Seems that some places are strict and others just rely on Common Sense (TM) - they'll let people mix at ours as long as they're sat down and not taking the piss. They do gently remind people to use a lead if their dog ends up socialising

Ah yes. One of my friends last night turned up with her dog (a Labrador called Daisy) and was told they weren't allowed. So she had to drive back home and leave the hound there.  Shame, because I adore dogs. I'd rather speak to them than people.

[Jockice]

And meanwhile my girlfriend took her dog (a wonderful lurcher called Blue) out for a walk and ended up sitting outside a local pub chatting to what she described as 'randoms.'  Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. She loves talking to random people. For hours on end. Me, not so much. However, unbeknownst to her, her son (who turned 18 a couple of weeks ago, and lives with his dad) was actually in the pub and when he came out was very embarrassed to see his mum there.  And that doesn't surprise me in the slightest either.

[DrGreggles]

Went to The Castle tonight. 6 of us, booked a table outside.

Really good. Table service only, no one inside, tables spaced apart.
Been very impressed by the Cambridge pubs I've been to so far.

That said, the only pubs I've been to are the ones that I'd expect this from.
Still not ready/willing to hit the city centre.

[MrMrs]

Shut the pubs forever

[Hand Solo]

Shut the pubs forever

An infinite lock-in sounds like fun, but then the barrels would need changing.

[idunnosomename]

Why can't we drink forever

[Cloud]

And meanwhile my girlfriend took her dog (a wonderful lurcher called Blue) out for a walk and ended up sitting outside a local pub chatting to what she described as 'randoms.'  Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. She loves talking to random people. For hours on end. Me, not so much. However, unbeknownst to her, her son (who turned 18 a couple of weeks ago, and lives with his dad) was actually in the pub and when he came out was very embarrassed to see his mum there.  And that doesn't surprise me in the slightest either.

Not gonna lie, one of the locals' dogs came to me for a fuss and as I'd just sanitised my hands she got one.  Then when the bar worker of the day came over to return the dog to her owner and tell him off (nicely), I sanitised again.  No harm done I reckon. But they need to be careful as not everyone goes to such lengths

[bgmnts]

Why can't we drink forever

Queen consider rewrite *hic*

[BlodwynPig]

One pint and that's it for my Saturday, Christ I've got boring.

Do you measure interest by how many pints you consume?

[Sebastian Cobb]

If you don't drink a load of pints then you actually have to go to the effort of doing something interesting.

[Blue Jam]

Was at the pub with a group of friends including a mental cocker spaniel last week. The spangle was bouncing around and saying hello to us all and I was fussing over her but that was fine because she was on a lead and kept to our group.

Went to a different pub that had just reopened a few days ago and got sniffed by a very cute Westie who clearly wanted to say hello but she was with strangers and I decided it would be best not to give her the ear scritches she was after. Also on a lead. Most pubs round here are very dog-friendly and dog owners seem to be keeping their dogs on leads.

[Blue Jam]

If you don't drink a load of pints then you actually have to go to the effort of doing something interesting.

To fill all the dull bits of the day when you're awake.

[Hand Solo]

Do you measure interest by how many pints you consume?

Yes. I didn't end up A&E again like normal.

[El Unicornio, mang]

Went out for a few in Newcastle last night, for the first time since around January (which is when I might possibly have caught the covid after a night in a sardine-level packed Bigg Market pub followed by three weeks of intense coughing). All felt a bit desolate and awkward, some of my favourite pubs closed, had to give name and number at one place before being seated. I like the table service, as I'm lazy. Some bars dotted around looked unnervingly busy though, and the Uber driver home said it was as busy as pre-Covid which I found hard to believe. Actually quite nice to get home and enjoy my kebab shop pizza at a reasonable hour (1am) rather than 5am/broad daylight.

Having gotten out of the routine of getting smashed in town every other weekend I've realised I don't miss it that much, and it's easily over a grand saved.