COVID-safe venue gets scathing restaurant review: 'This is the thanks we get'

A restaurant that has followed coronavirus-based social distancing precautions to the letter has received a negative, one-star review from a disgruntled diner on TripAdvisor.

In a time where equal parts we're desperate to return to normal life and constantly adapting to our new normal, it seems the hospitality venue's safe operation didn't go down too well with one attendee.

Evelyn's Cafe Bar in Manchester has said it was "the thanks we get for providing a COVID-secure environment" to the Manchester Evening Times.

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Since reopening in July, the city centre cafe-bar has introduced mandatory check-ins, like many dining venues across the globe.

In addition, they've required patrons to wear masks when moving around the facility, including bathroom breaks, aligned with government stipulated rules.

Still, one TripAdvisor user blasted the "ridiculous rules" despite them being the law since September, in a harsh one-star review.

The user wrote: "Upon entering they were ridiculously annoying with checking in on the COVID app (which I couldn't get to work on my phone), saying it was a legal requirement when it isn't, as no other restaurant, shop or cafe I have been to so far made it mandatory, making you leave if you do not use it.

"You also have to wear a mask if you dare to get up off your seat, and also go to the toilet for which there is only one (hence no one else there) so it did not make sense."

Commenting on the dining experience, the user added her food was "pretty nice albeit a bit pricey" and merely gave the low rating due to the 'beyond ridiculous COVID rules and poor service."

Co-owner of the restaurant Sax Arshad said the review was especially worrying considering the person who left it, according to their profile, is a doctor.

He said, "obviously being in hospitality the customer is always at the forefront of the experience so in that sense we feel we have their best interest at heart when implementing the COVID measures."

Despite not "wholeheartedly" believing in the measures, Arshad said the business has a "responsibility to our employees who depend on the income they receive" to keep the business open.

"If that means we have to follow a few rules then so be it."

The restaurant has an average rating of 4.5 stars according to TripAdvisor.

In the UK, which currently has over 810,000 cases of coronavirus, collecting customer's contact details to support the NHS Test and Trace efforts has been a legal requirement.

There is no rule that it must be done via an app.

Face masks have also been compulsory in restaurants, except when seated, since the end of September.