‘What have they all got against coffee and cake?’
CAFE owners have been trying to get their heads around the tough new Tier Three restrictions.
The unexpected rules – which haven’t been imposed on cafes in any other “very high” alert areas across the country – were sprung on proprietors with less than 48 hours’ notice.
Now, cafe owners cannot serve coffee or tea to a customer unless they are eating a substantial meal – and that doesn’t include a scone or cake.
Kevin Wright, who owns the Hockley, Pelham and King’s Walk Kitchens cafes, said: “We have had some clarification from the council city centre team which helps, but still the definition of substantial meal is a bit vague.
“In fact, what is substantial at breakfast time doesn’t necessarily mean it’s substantial at lunchtime, so we just have to try and work with this the best we can.
“What we don’t understand is the logic that you can come in and have breakfast and coffee and sit at a table but the people next to you can’t come in and just have coffee – this seems to make no sense.
“I think all hospitality outlets have gone to great lengths to try and make places safe and secure, so whether you have a breakfast and coffee or just a coffee I really don’t see the difference.”
Jasmin Barlow-wilkinson, owner of Homemade Cafe at the Forest Recreation Ground, has written to MPS, councillors and health officials asking “what have you got against coffee and cake?” and urging a rethink.
She said: “Why it is deemed safe and acceptable for customers to dine in, consume a full meal as a household, but if a household wants to afford themselves a smaller treat as a family such as coffees or milkshakes with cake this is not safe?
“Cafe owners don’t just provide food and drinks, we provide a nice space for people, which for many can often be a sanctuary to escape the same four walls?” The public seem equally baffled. Gill Hamilton said: “I don’t understand that rule. I can understand if alcohol is involved but you’re not going to forget social distancing after a coffee. Crazy!”
Emma-lea Youd said: “I’m so baffled. If you’ve got to have a meal and a coffee then people are going to be spending more time in an indoor venue around others.”
The new ruling has dashed an initiative by pubs and cafes which provide a welcoming space for lonely and isolated people.
The Crafty Teller, in Sherwood, had been giving people a chance to get out of the house and spend time there with a book or newspaper with buy one, get one free hot drinks.
They said: “The council it seems have scuppered our plans on offering a little comfort and support to anyone feeling a little isolated.
“The offer of buy one get one free on hot drinks is still available to you all but now it will be have to be with a meal. To anyone that struggling during the next few weeks if we can be of any help or you just want a cheeky chat drop us a message and if we can help we will.”
Josephine’s Tea Lounge in the city have had to stop offering bottomless drinks to lonely customers. Steve Neale, who runs the business with wife Joanne, said: “In between the chaos of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme and students surging back into Nottingham we noticed an increase in our older clientele.
“What we’ve noticed is that no two customers understand what the rules are on any given day.”