The pubs and restaurants are now open again. Mary and I thought we should dip our toes into the water so last Friday night booked supper at the Plough at Shutlanger near Towcester. On purpose we took a friend who we had been seeing on and off the last fortnight and another friend who had not ventured out for two and a half months. We all agreed that if we did not think it was safe we would leave. What an unnecessary precaution.

Arriving in the car park we were slightly worried that it was so full but we walked on down to the entrance where we were met as if VIPs by a charming girl who offered us spray, asked us to sign and then wished to know where we would like to sit. Even in this relatively small establishment there were four options - the bar, the internal dining room, the newly erected communal garden tent, and even individual tents. We opted for the communal garden tent where we sat at a very pleasant table some meters away from the other guests. We had pre-ordered a meal online. This was checked to make sure it was still what we wanted as the food was prepared fresh. This gave us time to have a very welcome pint of bitter, the first for three months. 

The people around us were clearly enjoying themselves as well and as there should be in a pub, there were plenty of outbursts of laughter. Apart from the distancing and the staff wearing masks everything was “normal”. The food arrived quickly, and the Caesar salad followed by the best sausages and onions I have eaten was really good. Indeed, it was the mixture of the food, drink and conviviality that made the evening. Our long dormant friend admitted towards the end of the evening that she had been nervous about accepting our invitation but delighted she had come. This reinforces the view that with sensible precautions and behaviour on all sides getting out once more is good for you. 

Thank you The Plough.