@Debra300 I'm currently in Tier 1.
1. I often offer guests a cup of tea on arrival; some refuse, some take it to their room, some sit in my dining room, either at the dining table or on the sofa, and I sit with them and chat.
- When we came out of lockdown on 4 July, my first guest, who'd stayed in March & been the chattiest EVER; several hours, now avoided me like the plague & kept his distance, being scared of The Virus. Some guests after him accepted tea, & I made an effort to sit 2m distant at opposite ends of the table. As time went on, and we ALL GOT MORE COMPLACENT(!), I sat with guests at closer range, or chatted standing up, aware that no one was concerned about social distancing...
I host many guests who I never see at all, apart from arrival. Those here for work don't tend to want to be social, or are too tired. Single tourists can be up for chat; I find couples just want to stay in their rooms all the time, even before Covid. It is very rare that guests ever want to socialise with other guests! Most treat me as a super-cheap crash pad!
2. I think social distancing is quite easy. I sleep downstairs, guests sleep upstairs. We can choose to mix, or not. Yes, we share ONE bathroom/toilet. It's possible to nip in when others are behind closed doors. - If I'm half way up the stairs & I glimpse someone exiting the loo, I can run away! - Does that momentary glimpse mean both of us should be masked up in anticipation of an encounter??? - I don't know! - If I can make it into the loo without clapping eyes on another guest, I reckon we're all OK sans mask?!
3.Impact of guest experience? - Some might JUMP at the chance not to feel obliged to chat over tea!!! And think 'What a blessed relief!'- Others might feel a lesser experience, but I would say the guests I have tea & chat are the exception, rather than the rule!
Some use my kitchen for evening meal, most don't. - Tho' breakfast is 'help yourself'; for most, before I'm up!
Some parts of the UK are now in the 'No household may mix zones' - Tier 2 & 3. So it could be argued, that guests staying with me are lucky to be allowed to stay at all! - Staying with less host contact, or no kitchen use, (which some hosts have introduced) is better than having booked in a newly declared 'No mixing' area.
Tomorrow I have tourists from Colorado Springs staying! Currently they are in an Airbnb just outside Lancaster, which IF a homeshare would be illegal! OK if an entire place.