On Sunday the market place was shut off and tables laid out for the wine bar to get more trade. We sat in the yard (all of 250 yds away) having a beer and watching it through the webcam. All is fine and dandy then people will start kissing their granny and no masks or the masks come down for a word or a fag. Glasses and money get multiple handling. Didn't see any hand cleansing. One concern is that they won't sell enough real ale for it to be on form and it ain't cheap. Webcams are great for a bit of applied non-participatory social observation or for chortling and spewing in a sort-of Anglo-Saxon at the numbskulls currently of this world. Market on Friday is more complicated.
9-6pm
https://uppinghamfirst.co.uk/webcam/
It is currently pretty safe, disease levels are low. My advice would be to enjoy a bit of summer while you can cos the autumn may be bloody awful.
We tried - very difficult to get a booking this week - only 8 or so places locally participating - get it while you can!
Went to the local cafe for lunch yesterday, I thought they'd undercharged me at first and when I queried it, she said about the voucher.
However there's no pre-booking or table service; you order at the hatch, collect from the front door and you're allowed to use the outdoor seating.
However, no complaints from me. I was a regular at the café before lockdown, have been supporting it ever since it reopened and it was nice to get a full lunch for £3!
You’re right it’s obscene that the taxpayer is subsidising me, but small charity-run cafes and family businesses need all the support they can get.
I can see the argument, but the taxpayer has funded an awful lot of businesses in the last few months. At least with this scheme, as a taxpayer I get to support the local businesses I want - those who have done the best they can for their staff and communities, or made a real effort to help themselves thus far.
Nope, it’s a **** obscene idea to subsidise those who can afford to eat out over increasing the standard rate of sick pay for low paid workers or increasing universal credit for those who continue to shield for medical reasons
Absolutely this. It is literally 'let them eat cake' from the good times PM. Andy Burnham sums it up
https://twitter.com/AndyBurnhamGM/status/1290598882884431874?s=20
I'm going to avoid expressing my own personal view as it would definitely overload the swear filter.
Needless to say that as a PAYE freelancer, I'm one of the 3 million taxpayers who've been completely excluded from all government support, I have some quite strong views on having subsidised Jeremy Hunts lunch
At least with this scheme, as a taxpayer I get to support the local businesses I want – those who have done the best they can for their staff and communities
The main beneficiaries of this will be McDonalds, Weatherspoons, and big chains. This is just yet another example of corporate welfare
The main beneficiaries of this will be McDonalds, Weatherspoons, and big chains.
Not from my direct spend they won't, though I accept that's a valid criticism
The main beneficiaries of this will be McDonalds, Weatherspoons, and big chains.
And their employees, suppliers, landlords...
Many McD’s are also a franchise so yes then cooperation will benefit but so will the smaller business that owns the franchise.
There was an interview with one of the trade associations for small business owners who stated that the government couldn't have possibly better designed a scheme, if the aim was to disproportionately benefit corporate chains.
I don't think that subsidising the likes of Wetherspoons should be a prioritiy when chucking about billions of pounds of taxpayers money
It's fair enough that most people on here will be enjoying a discounted chateaubriand at the local gastropub - this is middleclasstrackworld after all - but don't delude yourself as to where the vast majority of this taxpayers money will be ending up...
It's corporate welfare.
And that's before we start getting into the fact that in the whole of Greater Manchester I'm not allowed to have someone sit in my back garden with me, but I can pop down to my local for a few pints and a baguette and chips. Madness!
There was an interview with one of the trade associations for small business owners who stated that the government couldn’t have possibly better designed a scheme, if the aim was to disproportionately benefit corporate chains.
But if they only supported smaller hospitality businesses, then inevitably the larger chains would struggle even more (look at Pizza Express with their recent announcement of cuts along with Upper Crust, Cafe Rizatta, Ask etc) so the bigger chains with more employing power could go and unemployment go up as the small chains/independents won't be able to fill all the roles.
Unfortunately there is no perfect solution.
I'm with Binners - I am incredibly fortunate to have held onto a job, left that job voluntarily during the crisis to start another safe job. I earn a reasonable wage - not Jeremy Hunt reasonable but good enough.
I appreciate me being given a discount is a vehicle for the place I spend my money getting extra cash by enticing me in/back. But I don't want to be a beneficiary. And I don't want Hunt to be a beneficiary either.
1. A public social media campaign for those that can to put in the money saved as an additional tip (though to be fair if the staff have been furloughed they don't need it as much as the small business own themselves)
2.A government grant to food outlets which gives them a subsidy for every indoor cover that has had to be roped off for social distancing with a maximum per premise to artificially boost the smaller business and make it more worthwhile to open up.
3.To have made the vouchers 90-100% the bill but only available to those made redundant during the crisis. A kind a virtual food bank with benefit to the restaurant business too.
4.100% vouchers but for the NHS and care workers and their families who have seen some horrible shit in March and April (and May and June.....)
5. 100% vouchers given to businesses to hand out at their discretion but encouraged to be given to the poor ****s who worked their arses off whilst the rest of their teams were furloughed to keep the business afloat and save the jobs of those on extended holiday furlough.
6. A voucher for every graphic designer left without furlough benefits but with sod a to do 😉
All far more complicated I appreciate but this scheme leaves a really bad taste
Pizza Express - another example of venture capitalists destroying a viable business; over expansion, maximum extraction of money, load up with debt.
As for eat out to help out, I can't see it generating a worthwhile increase in either footfall or turnover.
Will people eat out more frequently - in August - as a result?
Will it increase the average spend per head - by (upto) a tenner?
What happens when it ends on 31st August?
You can moan about it and come up with ways it could be better, but it is what it is - go out and enjoy yourself and get a nice feed from nice people
There's some heavy weight virtue signalling going on here.
Looking forward to hearing details of a more appropriate scheme that wouldn't be a bureaucratic nightmare to administer.
The scheme does nothing to incentivise me; I'll dine out when I want to.
Other than when I worked away, I wouldn't dine out M-W; they're, typically, dead days in hospitality.
I value my health more than getting a tenner discount.
is this based on a mobile phone proximity app? or have you proved you are Covid free in some other way, which is then just relayed to this app?
There's some discussion as to the proximaty side of it. This may be triggered by those in shared accommodation which is common for workers in the ME and Asia, as well as families, but people aren't sure.
The main thing it does is if you're quarantined, because you have just flown in (test on arrival, 7 days home quarantine, another test to go "Green"), compound, house, workplace, has been compromised then your screen is yellow. No getting in anywhere and you're actually risking a massive fine by being out and everywhere checks. Emergencies only and food delivered by pre pay and drop outside delivery.
Red means you've had a positive test and you're either home quarantined with family, in hospital or quarantine facilties for those who can't isolate.
Last time I checked there was still a worldwide pandemic going on so regardless of a cheap meal out, I’m sticking to eating at home
Depends on the risk. There's *only* been 176 deaths in Qatar because it's a young population who only get work visas if you have a clear medical check including lung x-ray (for Indian/Pak/Nepal TB issues) so the risk is pretty low and everyone wears masks without complaining.
We went to the pool today, kept social distance and went early when it was very quiet. Outside pool only open, masks on when paying and ordering food, etc.
Everything has a risk. We're very low risk in what we do but that doesn't mean we just sit at home. Personal responsibility.
(pandemic means worldwide. It's the whole PIN number thing again)
MCTD, I think the scheme is a waste of money which will not deliver any worthwhile and sustainable net benefit to the hospitality sector.
It is deferring the inevitable for a number of outlets.
There’s some heavy weight virtue signalling going on here
It’s called debate ya dick. Labeling those with options that you disagree with says more about you.
Looking forward to hearing details of a more appropriate scheme that wouldn’t be a bureaucratic nightmare to administer.
See...
All far more complicated I appreciate
It’s called debate ya dick. Labeling those with options that you disagree with says more about you.
And your response says much about you...
And your response says much about you…
That I dislike him from his posting history - yup
There’s some heavy weight virtue signalling going on here.
Virtue-signalling is suggesting that in the middle of a pandemic, with an upcoming economic shitstorm approaching that will see millions existing on universal credit, that paying for middle-class peoples nice lunches might not be the best use of taxpayers money?
You forgot to call us all snowflakes. An oversight you'll no doubt soon rectify
It is deferring the inevitable for a number of outlets.
Very much this. It isn't part of some grand economic strategy or plan - why would you expect that from this shower? - its a gimmicky sticking plaster. A very very expensive sticking plaster, with most of the proceeds going straight to large corporate chains anyway
That I dislike him from his posting history – yup
Ahh okay, that's fine then. Bring down the tone of a thread that was being discussed in a surprisingly grown-up way just because you don't like the other poster. Crack on, don't mind us.
Ahh okay, that’s fine then. Bring down the tone of a thread that was being discussed in a surprisingly grown-up way just because you don’t like the other poster. Crack on, don’t mind us.
He brought the tone down with the need to be disingenuous to those with differing opinions. I merely reacted because this is his default pseudo attempt to belittle response. I assume you have a problem with him too? If he is offended, he is free to report - otherwise, glad to be of service.
He brought the tone down with the need to be disingenuous to those with differing opinions. I merely reacted because this is his default pseudo attempt to belittle response. I assume you have a problem with him too? If he is offended, he is free to report – otherwise, glad to be of service.
He was being slightly inflammatory with how he was discussing matters, I agree. You, however, reverted to schoolyard name-calling. I just don't see the need.
There’s some heavy weight virtue signalling going on here.
My ****ing arse there is, give the £500m its estimated the scheme will cost to ensuring all kids get free school meals.
There you go you utter ****ing muppet
That was a bit ott with regard to forum guidelines, apologies
As taxpayers, we paid multimillionaire Jeremy Hunt 50 quid towards lunch at his local gastropub yesterday.
We might be doing the same again right now. And tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that, until the end of the month. If he wants to go out for something later, we'll be paying for that too. If he fancies a double sausage and egg McMuffin tomorrow morning, we'll be paying again.
I don't know if we paid for Mark Francois lunch too as he's been quiet of late. But we all know of Iain Duncan Smiths' love of 40 quid breakfasts, so I imagine he'll be taking advantage of Rishi's generosity.
If you've just lost your job, or you're about to, then on Universal Credit you will be expected to live on £96 a week. I'd imagine that limits your gastropub lunch opportunities somewhat
Just sayin'
Convert - **** off you ****
Only the wife, but it wasn't 50% off. 🤔
Convert – * off you *
My work here is done 😁
Two meals booked so far, the first at a local independant Greek place that we love and the second at a Miller & Carter because steak fits in with my lifestyle. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any good independant steak places in the Stratford/Cheltenham/Worcester area but I'm happy to change that reservation if anyone knows different. Just waiting to hear back from my favourite momma and papa Italian place and that'll be one a week for the rest of the month.
