‘Substantial meal’ rule to be scrapped when pubs re-open, according to reports

No more discussions about scotch eggs

The controversial ‘substantial meal’ restrictions look likely to be scrapped when pubs finally re-open in England.

According to reports in The Times, Boris Johnson is looking to ditch the confusing rules when we able to go back to pubs and restaurants. The newspaper says that the prime minister has “ordered a simplification” of the restrictions.

Prior to the third lockdown in England, when hospitality venues were forced to close, pubs under Tier 2 restrictions could serve alcoholic drinks only with a substantial meal.

This of course quickly led to debate over what actually constituted a substantial meal. And because British politics is completely normal and sensible, it ended up with scotch eggs dominating the news discourse for a day or two. 

At the beginning of December, Environment secretary George Eustice told LBC that a scotch egg probably was a substantial meal, only for Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove to tell the radio station that it wasn’t.

Then later that day, Gove told ITV News that it was.

One pub even tried to get around the restrictions by offering bowls of meal replacement powder Huel.

Piers Morgan – What is a substantial meal?

Michael Gove has no idea & resorts to waffling

Piers Morgan – Once more we have government ministers who are not able to tell us what their own rules are.#GMB pic.twitter.com/ek9w9jSgUZ

— Haggis_UK ?? ?? (@Haggis_UK) December 1, 2020

The Times also reports that outdoor sports and activities are likely to be the first things allowed again when lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Teams sports, as well as activities like golf and tennis, could be allowed again within weeks of a projected return to schools on 8th March. Outdoor markets could also be set to re-open at the same time.

However, before we get too excited, The Times states that the plans are still only “tentative” at present.