HOW SUBSTANTIAL IS SUBSTANTIAL, REALLY?

NOV 2020
30
HOW SUBSTANTIAL IS SUBSTANTIAL, REALLY?

Is it really all that substantial?


guy thinking what's substantial

What's substantial?


It’s the question they’re all asking.


From Remainers to Leavers, from city gents to...other people, from BBC followers to ITV fans - everyone, really.


article-image-1

Everyone wants to know!


Just how substantial is ‘substantial’?

What’s so substantial about ‘substantial’?

article-image-2

Gif courtesy giphy.


This very substantial debate about British substantialism, specifically about how substantive the implication of ‘substantial’ as set out in Schedule I, Part II, Paragraph XVI of HMG’s earlier COVID Tier III Regulations is, has very substantial implications for an institution whose impact on British life is substantial.


article-image-3

He approves. Do you?


Or, to put it in plain English...remember all the hullabaloo over ‘substantial meal’ in the old Tier 3 rules?

You know, the one that led to a Manchester pizza place being told they can’t serve 22-inch slices of pizza as those don’t count as a ‘substantial meal’?

That’s all set to make a comeback under the good old new Tier system.


three tier meme

Tiers are coming! Image courtesy me.me.


Beginning December 3rd (as the current lockdown ends on Wednesday, December the second), the UK will enter a new tiered system of restrictions.


Under the new system, pubs - those august hubs of British life - in Tier II regions can remain open only if they offer substantial meals.


beer with burger

Is this a substantial meal?


And that’s been a topic of...wait for it...substantial debate. It’s blown a lot of fuses, leading to radio interviews and…


twitter meltdown meme.


...Twitter meltdowns.


So, what is it that’s made people so edgy?

How has the government attempted to address people’s concerns?

And, where does that leave pubs in Tier II regions of the post-lockdown regime?

Let’s jump right in.

The affair of the Cornish pasty

cornish pasty

Image courtesy bbc.com.


On LBC’s breakfast show, Nick Ferrari - of Boris Johnson and Diane Abbott vintage - asked Robert Jenrick what a ‘substantial meal’ is.

Could, for example, a Cornish pasty count as a ‘substantial meal’?


True to form, the Right Honourable Robert Jenrick replied that a “Cornish pasty with chips or side salad” would count as a “normal meal”.


Twitter went into a meltdown.

The idea that the pasty itself doesn’t count as a full meal was blasted as blasphemous.

From Tory MP’s to BBC editors to political commentators, everyone jumped into the fray.

Braveheart was invoked, allegations of a police state made, and even a few ‘Vote ‘em out’ demands raised.


Clearly, The Right Hon Jenrick had no idea just how substantial a goof-up he was making.

Ouch.

Is a sandwich a substantial meal?

sandwich with beetroot and pickles

That looks absolutely delicious. But is it substantial?


Would it amaze you if I reveal that this isn’t the first time the question of a ‘substantial meal’ led to a substantial debate?

There have been entire lawsuits over the question of what constitutes a ‘meal’.


are sandwiches substantial


The most famous one is Timmis v Millman.

A bar had served a couple of patrons sandwiches with beetroot and pickles, alongside heaps of booze, after-hours.

They had a certificate allowing them to remain open after hours, to serve meals.


The then government - this was way back in the 1960s - alleged that the sandwiches did not count as ‘meals’.

Which would imply that the bar was really serving liquor with snacks. Something they weren’t permitted to.


As you would expect, it led to a lawsuit.

The High Court found that the sandwiches did constitute a ‘meal’ which led to a judgement in favour of the bar.


judge cartoon

The sandwiches were so substantial they did constitute a meal.

Image courtesy golf-banter.co.uk.


In particular, the High Court said that the sandwiches…

were so substantial, and assisted by the pickles and beetroot so as to justify that it was a table meal and not a mere snack from the bar

Presumably this is where the government got the inspiration for our current ‘substantial meal’ regulation.


Incidentally, I wonder what the lawyers involved in the lawsuit, having gained substantial billable hours talking at length about sandwiches and booze, did right after the judgement was announced…

So, where does that leave pubs in Tier II regions?

tier II pub

Will they be allowed to open?


Reliant on their own judgement.


For now, the government has stuck to its ‘substantial meal’ regulation, insisting that it’s something that pub owners are familiar with, and that their patrons will exercise common sense.


On the other hand, pub owners are peeved over what they see as a lack of clarity on the government’s part on this issue.

Many are gearing up to go takeaway only, and working on creating DIY kits that you can unpack at home.


There IS a ray of hope, however.


article-image-4

Common sense at the local government level could work!


Remember that Manchester pizza shop I told you about? The one that was told their 22 inch slices of pizza were not substantial?


The shop later sent out this tweet:


Clarifying that all was well.


So, as things seem to stand, it seems that it will be local administrations and common sense who will carry the day on the question of ‘substantial meals’.


What is YOUR idea of a ‘substantial meal’?

Tweet what you think is a ‘substantial meal’ - one which would entitle you to a round of beer - with the hashtags #fiablondon #substantialmeal, and tag us!

Let’s get a really substantial discussion going!


Book Now


If you like this, why not take a look at these pages:




  NEWS
HOW SUBSTANTIAL IS SUBSTANTIAL, REALLY?

Is it really all that substantial?


guy thinking what's substantial

What's substantial?


It’s the question they’re all asking.


From Remainers to Leavers, from city gents to...other people, from BBC followers to ITV fans - everyone, really.


article-image-1

Everyone wants to know!


Just how substantial is ‘substantial’?

What’s so substantial about ‘substantial’?

article-image-2

Gif courtesy giphy.


This very substantial debate about British substantialism, specifically about how substantive the implication of ‘substantial’ as set out in Schedule I, Part II, Paragraph XVI of HMG’s earlier COVID Tier III Regulations is, has very substantial implications for an institution whose impact on British life is substantial.


article-image-3

He approves. Do you?


Or, to put it in plain English...remember all the hullabaloo over ‘substantial meal’ in the old Tier 3 rules?

You know, the one that led to a Manchester pizza place being told they can’t serve 22-inch slices of pizza as those don’t count as a ‘substantial meal’?

That’s all set to make a comeback under the good old new Tier system.


three tier meme

Tiers are coming! Image courtesy me.me.


Beginning December 3rd (as the current lockdown ends on Wednesday, December the second), the UK will enter a new tiered system of restrictions.


Under the new system, pubs - those august hubs of British life - in Tier II regions can remain open only if they offer substantial meals.


beer with burger

Is this a substantial meal?


And that’s been a topic of...wait for it...substantial debate. It’s blown a lot of fuses, leading to radio interviews and…


twitter meltdown meme.


...Twitter meltdowns.


So, what is it that’s made people so edgy?

How has the government attempted to address people’s concerns?

And, where does that leave pubs in Tier II regions of the post-lockdown regime?

Let’s jump right in.

The affair of the Cornish pasty

cornish pasty

Image courtesy bbc.com.


On LBC’s breakfast show, Nick Ferrari - of Boris Johnson and Diane Abbott vintage - asked Robert Jenrick what a ‘substantial meal’ is.

Could, for example, a Cornish pasty count as a ‘substantial meal’?


True to form, the Right Honourable Robert Jenrick replied that a “Cornish pasty with chips or side salad” would count as a “normal meal”.


Twitter went into a meltdown.

The idea that the pasty itself doesn’t count as a full meal was blasted as blasphemous.

From Tory MP’s to BBC editors to political commentators, everyone jumped into the fray.

Braveheart was invoked, allegations of a police state made, and even a few ‘Vote ‘em out’ demands raised.


Clearly, The Right Hon Jenrick had no idea just how substantial a goof-up he was making.

Ouch.

Is a sandwich a substantial meal?

sandwich with beetroot and pickles

That looks absolutely delicious. But is it substantial?


Would it amaze you if I reveal that this isn’t the first time the question of a ‘substantial meal’ led to a substantial debate?

There have been entire lawsuits over the question of what constitutes a ‘meal’.


are sandwiches substantial


The most famous one is Timmis v Millman.

A bar had served a couple of patrons sandwiches with beetroot and pickles, alongside heaps of booze, after-hours.

They had a certificate allowing them to remain open after hours, to serve meals.


The then government - this was way back in the 1960s - alleged that the sandwiches did not count as ‘meals’.

Which would imply that the bar was really serving liquor with snacks. Something they weren’t permitted to.


As you would expect, it led to a lawsuit.

The High Court found that the sandwiches did constitute a ‘meal’ which led to a judgement in favour of the bar.


judge cartoon

The sandwiches were so substantial they did constitute a meal.

Image courtesy golf-banter.co.uk.


In particular, the High Court said that the sandwiches…

were so substantial, and assisted by the pickles and beetroot so as to justify that it was a table meal and not a mere snack from the bar

Presumably this is where the government got the inspiration for our current ‘substantial meal’ regulation.


Incidentally, I wonder what the lawyers involved in the lawsuit, having gained substantial billable hours talking at length about sandwiches and booze, did right after the judgement was announced…

So, where does that leave pubs in Tier II regions?

tier II pub

Will they be allowed to open?


Reliant on their own judgement.


For now, the government has stuck to its ‘substantial meal’ regulation, insisting that it’s something that pub owners are familiar with, and that their patrons will exercise common sense.


On the other hand, pub owners are peeved over what they see as a lack of clarity on the government’s part on this issue.

Many are gearing up to go takeaway only, and working on creating DIY kits that you can unpack at home.


There IS a ray of hope, however.


article-image-4

Common sense at the local government level could work!


Remember that Manchester pizza shop I told you about? The one that was told their 22 inch slices of pizza were not substantial?


The shop later sent out this tweet:


Clarifying that all was well.


So, as things seem to stand, it seems that it will be local administrations and common sense who will carry the day on the question of ‘substantial meals’.


What is YOUR idea of a ‘substantial meal’?

Tweet what you think is a ‘substantial meal’ - one which would entitle you to a round of beer - with the hashtags #fiablondon #substantialmeal, and tag us!

Let’s get a really substantial discussion going!


Book Now


If you like this, why not take a look at these pages:




  NEWS