Punishing solo diners for taking up a table that could seat two is just encapsulating the discrimination that single people face daily, something which I have faced often since becoming a widower (Don’t meal-shame me: a table for one at a restaurant I love is the ultimate indulgence, 29 July).
A local pub requires prebooking to guarantee a table to eat as it can get very busy. I recently attempted to do so, only to be told, both over the phone and online, that I could only book a table for two. When I said that I wanted to dine alone pub staff responded with incredulity. Eventually, head office got involved and changed the system, but that was one pub out of hundreds owned by the chain and I shouldn’t have had to complain.
