Overcrowding at Memsaab Lordship Lane

[Friernlocal]

Booked a table yesterday for 6:30 in evening. Asked beforehand if they were taking Covid-19 precautions. Was told they were following guidelines and keeping adequate distance between tables. This was not true!

It was busy when we arrived and very quickly it became totally packed. There were just as many tables as before Covid-19 restrictions. It was TOO crowded. They weren't taking diners details for contact tracing.

I don't advise going there during the 'eat out to help out' period.

[Nigello]

That?s not good news. What did they say when you complained? Did you stay? What have you done to notify the authorities? Perhaps they had your number or email already from the booking?

[Friernlocal]

The restaurant has been sent an email about lack of social distancing and Southwark Trading Standards have been informed.

[JohnL]

It should be 6 feet between tables at the moment as far as I can tell - should be marked out as that then makes it obvious.

[DulwichFox]

I went with a friend 2 weeks ago on a Thurs. we were give one of the booths that hold 6.

Well isolated

We had our details taken despite Memsaab knowing me very well.

There was plenty of Sanitiser around and staff were wearing Masks.

The restaurant was quiet.

The problem is with the 1/2 price days introduced by the government.

Walking past it does look very busy on those days, but so does Hisar.. Rammed packed.

and Franco Manca too.

If people are concerned about social distancing they don't have to go there on those days.

DulwichFox

[jimlad48]

Sounds like a sensible place and one I'd frequent.

Good to see some businesses not buying into the COVID hysteria and just getting on with life.

[DulwichFox]

The Virus is not going to go away. Even with a Vaccine, the Virus will still be there.

The Virus seems to affect people differently.

It has killed people but some people have very little symptoms.

Perhaps any Vaccine may react the same way protecting some and not others.

We all have a choice.

If we have no symptoms then we can take the risk and go out for a Drink or a Meal.

Alternatively We can all not go out... and stay at home until we die.

At nearly 70, I have made up my mind what I am going to do.

I will not take too many chances but will try to make the most of the time I have left.

Foxy

[ladyblue]

Good for you foxy,only here the once so might as well enjoy it stay safe 🙏

[cactus]

Indoor socialising does still carry some risks, even with social distancing.

I agree with foxy, we each make a choice around whether or not to eat out during these times. I wouldn't stay inside any venue though, if it felt too unsafe/overcrowded. Not much fun sitting there over a meal and worrying about contracting the virus. Would rather forgo the ?10 off and dine out on a quieter night.

[Alan Medic]

The problem with not exercising social distancing is that we will end up with an increase in the spread of the virus and more deaths from it. This in turn will lead to stricter government restrictions being imposed, which in turn will affect businesses such as Memsaab. There has already been talk of what will have to lose out with schools having to reopen, and pubs have been mentioned.

Until behaviour changes sufficiently to limit the spread of the disease, it's going to be like this. It is really down to people and businesses to realise that in the long run they (and everyone) will be better off by following the rules*

*I'm giving the government the benefit of the doubt that they will act in our interest.

[EDulwich_4]

If the lack of social distancing in this restaurant is not enough to put you off, their basic hygene levels should be. For years now the residents on Matham Grove have had to put up with Mensaab dumping waste onto Matham Grove, at times whole animal parts have been thrown onto the footpath of Matham Grove at the side of the restaurant (where their kitchen door is), and I understand the council has had to intervene a number of times. Their kitchen door is left open most of the time with waste and rubbish sitting right outside it and if you saw the kitchen you would probably not eat there...

[lameduck]

I like the Memsaab, and was thinking of booking a table

for my family as a treat, but its not good if you book an early table,

half way through your meal, the place starts filling up to capacity,

And you think, what do I do, carry on eating, or buggering off.

because you are worried, I like foxy am old, and take little risks, not many.

But I dont like, risks, being taken by others, where I am concerned.

Nobody should be put at any unnecessary risks.

[jimlad48]

lameduck Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I like the Memsaab, and was thinking of booking a

> table

> for my family as a treat, but its not good if you

> book an early table,

> half way through your meal, the place starts

> filling up to capacity,

> And you think, what do I do, carry on eating, or

> buggering off.

> because you are worried, I like foxy am old, and

> take little risks, not many.

> But I dont like, risks, being taken by others,

> where I am concerned.

> Nobody should be put at any unnecessary risks.

This level of undue paranoia is destroying our economy.

Currently 0.005% of the population have COVID19 Barely 500 people are in hospital and less than 70 of whom are on ventilators.

Meanwhile flu and cold are killing 6 times as many people as COVID yet no one cares.

Chill out, go out and relax - you literally have nothing to worry about.

[Callie]

812 new cases reported & 16 died in last 24 hrs in uk (who)

[Penguin68]

Many of the cases being uncovered follow significant increases in testing and include people generally asymptomatic - the 'false positive' figures are significant once the actual infection rate is very low - roughly 10 in 10,000 will falsely test positive (that is, the test is 99.9% accurate in terms of 'clearing' the non-infected). That means that, if there are 150,000 tests in a day - which is the broad run-rate - you will find 150 false positives. [There are also false negatives, of course, and that figure would be higher] - However, if no one at all had Covid, 150,000 tests would still say the number with Covid was 150.

So once the numbers infected get low (as they are at the moment) the 'headline' positive number may be misleading (this isn't an issue with very high infection rates, of course, where false positives are statistical 'noise').

Additionally you need to consider the severity of cases - the numbers being admitted to hospital are not rising significantly (indeed are low) as are those in ICU or ventilators. Flu and non-Covid pneumonia are currently the significant killers in hospital settings, rather than Covid 19.

If you are unhappy with social distancing around you - then avoid it. I know some people who remain in voluntary lock-down still, and that is their choice. But for the vast majority of those reading this forum, it is not our job to police social distancing, or to make decisions on other's behalf. I might report rats or mice or cockroaches in places that sell food, but not, I think, behaviour.

[cactus]

I think it's quite tricky for the average person to understand the statistics beneath the headlines.

We've seen recent reports to say that cases in the UK are stable/levelling off, but yesterday I noted a headline claiming the opposite. Birmingham is on the verve of lockdown if you are to believe some reports ...

So I totally understand it when people are still feeling anxious about going out and about if social distancing isn't happening.

I think on a positive note, the COVID Symptom study app only estimates 73 active cases in Southwark today, so the risk seems pretty low, but still not a time for complacency in my opinion.

[Alan Medic]

Shrieker, you've obviously registered today to have a rant about this particular business. Can you answer me this, does it comply with the covid restrictions for restaurants? If so, isn't that all you need to say? If not, why not?

[eastdulwichlocal99]

.

[JohnL]

Shrieker Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Shrieker, you've obviously registered today to

> > have a rant about this particular business. Can

> > you answer me this, does it comply with the

> covid

> > restrictions for restaurants? If so, isn't that

> > all you need to say? If not, why not?

>

> Even if it didnt comply with 'covid restrictions'

> it doesnt matter- you take the personal decision

> to go to a restaurant and take the risk.

>

> Mate, the place could be completely empty bar the

> server and yourself, but if he has it or doesnt

> wash his hands there is just a good a chance

> you'll catch it even if the place was heaving. But

> at the moment the chance of catching it in either

> scenario is virtually nil, so its incredible that

> this person ran crying to trading standards. Hope

> they get completely ignored.

That isn't how it works though (whatever you think about common sense).

If there's an issue they'll investigate whatever the chances of transmission just like if my car tyres are not inflated properly I'll get fined even if an accident wasn't my fault.

[Alan Medic]

How do you know there is virtually nil chance of catching it in a 'heaving' restaurant?

[lameduck]

people are still catching it somewhere

[womanofdulwich]

I must point out it might be YOU the customer that has covid, and the duty is to protect other customers and staff.

[Alan Medic]

Many people don't consider they have a 'duty' to anyone but themselves I'm afraid.

[womanofdulwich]

Alan, Im afraid that is probably true, and not helped by some of our leaders, but employers should be pulled up on this.

[Yeslovewhatcanigetu]

I?m glad there are more people starting to see sense and taking a more balanced view. The chances of getting Covid in Memsaab are pretty tiny, and if you?re worried about it, agree that you?re probably better off getting a takeaway.