How come

[victor]

when I walked into town Poppins café was not only open but had their tables out also another café run by a local woman was also open

[Kaz]

They shouldn't be!

[cromwell]

An Italian restaurant near us has remained open throughout.

[meriad]

How? I thought they had to close unless doing take away only?

Daft question (not that it makes it right) but are the tables at least 2m apart from each other and is there enough space to walk 2m past them?

[Workingman]

Some cafes etc. are allowed to remain open but only as a takeaway service - nothing should be consumed on the premises. The two metre rule must be observed when queuing so for most it is one in and one out.

If you see people eating in-house report them.

[TheOstrich]

Cruiser, we have a Poppins in town. I'm not sure if they are chain-owned or operated by franchisees. Cheap and cheerful meals, and I have been known to frequent the breakfast menu

When the lockdown started, it advertised take-away only - but most restaurants, some pubs and normal takeaways were all then doing takeaways, so Poppins after a week or so - along with a few other outlets - closed completely; too much competition.

However, I've noticed that from today (it's normally shut Mondays) Poppins started the takeaway service again - phone orders, delivery or collection, Tuesday to Sunday. And at least one other café (the one by the railway station) seems to have restarted for takeaways as well.

I think this is because there has been a noticeably growing demand as the days have gone by. There were some complaints on the town's FB page that the orders from the local Chinese last Saturday were running two hours behind - they apologised and said they had every wok going on every stove!

[JoM]

I’ve noticed comments on Facebook today about various fish and chips shops reopening. One of the restaurants in town has opened to do takeaways which are going down a storm apparently and they’re struggling to keep up with demand. One of the micro pubs is now doing cider and real ale deliveries.

[saundra]

A lot are doing book collect stuff fish/chips and even Sunday carvery and some pubs doing the same every day it's the only way business is going to survive even butcher's veg/fruit shops and nursery for plants compost it's vital for them wish hairdressers could

[JanB]

All the restaurants, bars, cafes have been shut here for weeks, although a couple are doing a takeaway service.

The only place open is Tony's Kiosk - and they do phone top up's etc, as well as coffee, so, for some reason, have been allowed to open. But you are not allowed to sit down and drink your coffee, and as it's just near the police station, people have been very good

[cromwell]

How? I thought they had to close unless doing take away only?

Daft question (not that it makes it right) but are the tables at least 2m apart from each other and is there enough space to walk 2m past them?

Ria, their website says re Covid 19 "We are open as normal until advised otherwise and adhering to the strictest safety standards". They are also offering a takeaway service. I have only been in once and the tables were pretty far apart. Whether they can maintain that distance in the kitchen is another matter.

Jo, the chip shop in the next village is opening 11.30-19.00 Thursday and Friday but with only one member of staff behind the counter.