Unwelcome at Southwold

[Bru]

We tied up at Halfpenny pier and called in at the Alma. You have to wear a mask to go the toilet! But you can take it off when sitting. How does that work... apart from making life unpleasant and not worth going back until they come up with a more pleasant way of doing things.

Oh dear never mind

Now try doing an eight hour shift in a hot warehouse wearing a mask, that's an unpleasant life. A minor inconvenience in the convenience isn't!

 

[Biggles Wader]

How locked down?
Is it still worthwhile visiting?

We tied up at Halfpenny pier and called in at the Alma. You have to wear a mask to go the toilet! But you can take it off when sitting. How does that work... apart from making life unpleasant and not worth going back until they come up with a more pleasant way of doing things.

Was I the only one who misread that? The mind boggles! Do you use the old mask to replace valuable bog paper?
Isnt life awful!

 

[Slowboat35]

"We tied up at Halfpenny pier and called in at the Alma. You have to wear a mask to go the toilet! But you can take it off when sitting."

So you need a mask for a pee but not required for number 2s?
Well then, sit down for your pee. Simples.

 

[laurie the sailer]

"We tied up at Halfpenny pier and called in at the Alma. You have to wear a mask to go the toilet! But you can take it off when sitting."

So you need a mask for a pee but not required for number 2s?
Well then, sit down for your pee. Simples.

Seems as all the ECF unwittingly visited the Alma yesterday, me included, my lobster was rather yummy.

 

[Tomahawk]

"We tied up at Halfpenny pier and called in at the Alma. You have to wear a mask to go the toilet! But you can take it off when sitting."

So you need a mask for a pee but not required for number 2s?
Well then, sit down for your pee. Simples.

I must admit I didn't find out if the landlord was checking up on customers in the cubicles. Perhaps any ladies might comment?

 

[Tomahawk]

Seems as all the ECF unwittingly visited the Alma yesterday, me included, my lobster was rather yummy.

We had a meal and the food was very good.
But for me the overall experience was let down by the covidiocy approach.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Funny that all the Alma has done is followed the easy to understand rules applied in other countries (Spain/Portugal/France) where whenever you enter an indoor establishment you wear a face mask. If you are going to eat, you sit at a table and that is the only place you can remove your mask. If you get up to leave the table, mask on

 

[alandalus11]

And what good has it done them. Two out of the three on quarantine list.

 

[Slowboat35]

Funny that all the Alma has done is followed the easy to understand rules applied in other countries (Spain/Portugal/France) where whenever you enter an indoor establishment you wear a face mask. If you are going to eat, you sit at a table and that is the only place you can remove your mask. If you get up to leave the table, mask on

But the Alma isn't in one of those "other countries"....

Should they equally be allowed to apply Sharia law too?

Let's have a sense of proportion, shall we?

 

[johnalison]

I don't see why the Alma shouldn't set whatever rules they believe are legal, or necessary, or which are likely to make the majority of clients comfortable and at ease. It may be that for every customer who baulks at the idea of wearing a mask for a minute or two there are several who will not return if they find themselves surrounded by unmasked or undisciplined people.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Funny that all the Alma has done is followed the easy to understand rules applied in other countries (Spain/Portugal/France) where whenever you enter an indoor establishment you wear a face mask. If you are going to eat, you sit at a table and that is the only place you can remove your mask. If you get up to leave the table, mask on

Is it a rule ? Not seen it elsewhere. Went for a carvery 2 weeks ago, everyone was freely moving around in the restaurant without masks.

 

[Skellum]

Is it a rule ? Not seen it elsewhere. Went for a carvery 2 weeks ago, everyone was freely moving around in the restaurant without masks.

That sounds even more risky. Our YC is still open for food, though like every eating establishment in Hong Kong has to close at 6pm. They are only doing the menu / table service with no buffet due to the extra risk of people milling around the buffet area. The absence of the buffet is also good for my diet

 

[Tomahawk]

I don't see why the Alma shouldn't set whatever rules they believe are legal, or necessary, or which are likely to make the majority of clients comfortable and at ease. It may be that for every customer who baulks at the idea of wearing a mask for a minute or two there are several who will not return if they find themselves surrounded by unmasked or undisciplined people.

Of course you sre right.Pubs can apply whatever rules they want. Their rules may make some people feel safe. They will also put others off visiting. Whilst is is clear many pubs are busy right now, I wonder if this is a temporary response to people being locked up at home for four months? Will people tire of being shofed about by rules? For us, the "rules" have taken the pleasure out of going to the local for a drink.

But behind this the real problem is what regulations are pubs enforcing?
I am hearing stories of council workers closing down pubs for not complying with regulations. Knowing a council jobsworth can make you bankrupt at a single visit is enough to put the shits up any landlord. Faced with that reality, they are more likely to overboard just in case. The variety of different regimes is enormous. For instwnce, the Globe is almost like a normal pub used to be. Yet speaking with the landlord, he said he is complying with regulations.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Is it a rule ? Not seen it elsewhere. Went for a carvery 2 weeks ago, everyone was freely moving around in the restaurant without masks.

I did say in Spain/Portugal/France...

 

[PaulRainbow]

I did say in Spain/Portugal/France...

Ah, missed that bit, sorry.

 

[MoodySabre]

We booked ahead and stayed Monday and Tuesday night this week. Harbour staff were very helpful and we had a great stay even though Southwold was in more of a lock down mode than other places we have visited.

My daughter has a house there and we stayed with them a week ago. Apart from Harbour cafe being closed and the mooring numbers restricted the town was its normal busy busy self. We got a table for Sunday lunch at The Crown as other places were booked out. The one way pavements were largely successful. Booking ahead and queues outside shops are the new normal. The beaches at the southern end were not very busy.

 

[Cantata]

From my niece who is in a hotel in Bodrum,Turkey - "You won't be served even so much as a drink if you don't have a mask on. All staff wear them all the time - even the life guards!!!! They will all tell you to put one on if they see you without one. Hand sanitiser everywhere, sterilised cutlery in a sealed bag, all buffet food served to you. "
Other people seem to manage OK.

 

[Crazy-Diamond]

I was thinking of visiting Southwold for the first time next week, now I'm not so sure!

 

[MoodySabre]

I was thinking of visiting Southwold for the first time next week, now I'm not so sure!

Ring the HM.
I expect the town has quitened down now the schools are back.
It's a must do kind of place - the OP just turned up and was impolite so don't do that!

 

[Tomahawk]

Speaking with the landlord of my local.. said that licensing officers have visited all the pubs in the District.

In simple terms council workers have been telling landlords that they will be closed down and fined up to £20K if they are thought to infringe rules. I call that intimidation and bullying. It is no wonder some pubs are being draconian if they think they face bankruptcy at a moments notice from a visit by a council worker with a clipboard.