Rescue restaurants

When we allow restaurants to open then we should position the tables at least 2 metres apart. Perhaps staff should all have masks and of course all tables should be cleaned with any bacterial sprays.

Only disposable paper napkins should be used and of course only plates, cutlery and glasses cleaned in appropriate cleaning machines should be used.

Perhaps only pre table bookings should be taken and of course payments by card only. It may well be that sittings of only up to 1.5 hours be allowed.

Why the contribution is important

People will need an escape.

A million staff are employed in the industry. The alternative will be that so many individuals will be unemployed and businesses will go bust especially since Insurance policies have rejected most claims.

by Steve1 on May 05, 2020 at 01:41PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.2
Based on: 25 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Clayton41 May 05, 2020 at 13:48

    No they must remain closed until after the summer

  • Posted by Escocia May 05, 2020 at 13:51

    You can’t have social distancing in every workplace, so common sense is needed here! If restaurants have infra red devices to check body temperature, gloves, masks, sanitizer and strict handwashing, then the 2m rule should only be between customer and employee.
    But cant all customers be temp checked before sitting in ? Businesses MUST re-open

  • Posted by hma May 05, 2020 at 13:55

    Restaurants should only be opened as 'take away' until such time as its safer to sit down for a meal.

  • Posted by thespidersays May 05, 2020 at 14:02

    My partner and I live in a seaside town that depends heavily on tourism and hospitality for its economic survival. It has been heartbreaking to see our small businesses forced to close and it seems vital to ease some of the lockdown measures for these kinds of businesses as soon as is safe and feasible. The measures set forth above for the reopening of restaurants/cafes seem justified and sensible and would provide an immense uplift in morale for our communities. I would just add that owing to the much-debated and unproven benefits of masks, restaurant and cafe staff should not be obliged to wear them - rather individual staff members should be allowed to make their own decisions, and should feel comfortable and supported by customers in wearing masks if they felt this was the safest/most psychologically reassuring route for them in returning to work in a public-facing environment.

  • Posted by miketrevett May 05, 2020 at 14:03

    Allow cafes and restaurants to use more outside space when the weather is good enough. Social distancing between tables inside, give the businesses a chance to get back on their feet.

  • Posted by danifraser18 May 05, 2020 at 14:08

    Restaurants eventually need to reopen- for the economy and it's workers.

    Prebooking, pre order and pre pay should be enforced to reduce risk.

  • Posted by dalrob1964 May 05, 2020 at 14:11

    keep 2m distance then open but ban the sale of Alcohol

  • Posted by mauricehowieson May 05, 2020 at 14:12

    MOST PUBS/RESTAURANTS SERVE FOOD IN USA ALL PREMISES HAVE A MAX NUMBER ALLOWED TO ENTER AS ALL CLIENTS MUST HAVE A SEAT. EASY TO WORK OUT THE CAPACITY
    ACCORDING TO THE SQUARE METERAGE NO STANDING AT THE BAR ALL SEATED
    WITH ALL THE OTHER CHECKS AND A CHOICE AS TO WHO WANTS TO GO TO A RESTAURANT
    UP TO THE CUSTOMER THIS IS WORKABLE I THINK

  • Posted by ElsieC64 May 05, 2020 at 14:14

    Ways have to be considered to get these open as soon as practicable as they are a source of social interaction amongst the generations. Again it must be possible to implement social distancing within the establishments. Owners would welcome the opportunity to do this to get their incomes going again.

  • Posted by lewisrobins May 06, 2020 at 18:40

    Why should restaurant/pub staff risk their health/ their families health? It is all very good saying the customers can socially distance, use disposable napkins etc - who has to tidy up these customers tables? Who has to expose themselves to potential contaminated plates, cups, cutlery, menus etc? Who serves the food? Staff cannot be expected to put themselves at risk. There should be only takeaway facilities, with the option to sit outdoors if you wish to sit on the premises.

  • Posted by Kylesku May 06, 2020 at 21:09


    Restaurants are able to operate in Sweden & they have a lower infectin rate than we do - we should follow their example & policies as they have been far more effiective than Nicola's & Boris's.

  • Posted by DesiCat May 08, 2020 at 10:34

    After reading comments, I think that pubs and restaurants, could potentially open if rules are thoroughly applied regarding hygiene and distancing. Premises that have outdoor areas that allow distancing could be the first to trial out the new normal. I would advocate disposables for everything, i.e food service and drink ware. Things could change radically, if there were, rapid results testing kits (anti-body ones). Pubs and restaurants in rural communities, could be the first to roll out. The numbers of residents are less. Guests restricted to those who agree to testing, where the assumption is, the test would require a small painless stab on a finger. Premises would Still keep up an enforced hygiene regime with sanitiser availability constant. It would certainly raise confidence if those they are socialising with, know that they are in the clear. Self-distancing and face coverings would not be required. I would think that, Rapid reliable results testing kits, would be a game changer for the hospitality industry, providing the kits are economically feasible. and can be bulk purchased.

  • Posted by Ljd9 May 08, 2020 at 17:31

    Social distancing just won't work in some restaurants. Food still needs to be served by staff to customer (close contact) who have touched plates cutlery etc social distancing between staff impossible in some restaurant set ups, use of outdoor space is a good idea but what happens when the good weather comes and everyone wants to go to the same place? What happens if it rains or bad weather? Do they just not open? Completely unrealistic for a business to open and only be able to have a small amount of tables available - they still have gas, electricity, insurances, rent, pensions, wages, bin collections, licenses, maintenance costs to meet - this isn't possible if the takings are reduced massively.

  • Posted by firehorse May 08, 2020 at 23:20

    Hospitality will be one of the last sector to reopen, there are lots of different models on how to re-open I agree, I think most comments are seeing it simple as a customer perspective. As a professional in this sector my concern is that, dinners don't eat and go in 10 mins, usual time at a table would be 1-2 hours in a enclosed space where social interaction is core to peoples experience. Floor staff would be having multiple interactions with multiple people over a prolonged period. Its not like a shop etc where you can improve safety measures easily by Perspex sheeting etc. There will also need to be tapered financial support put in place, to cover the reduction of revenue during the recovery period.

  • Posted by sinderins May 11, 2020 at 15:10

    My worry is that social distancing is almost impossible in many restaurant kitchens and the latest stats show that male chefs are particularly vulnerable to catching covid 19. Therefore it is simply not worth the risk of endangering more chefs' lives and restaurants should remain closed until we are virtually clear of the risk of infection.
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