'Beautiful' to have a pint - England's pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopen

Glasses on display as tables are rearranged ensuring social distancing at the Chandos Arms pub in London. Picture: Frank Augstein/AP

Glasses on display as tables are rearranged ensuring social distancing at the Chandos Arms pub in London. Picture: Frank Augstein/AP

Published Jul 4, 2020

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London - People could get a drink in a

pub, have a meal in a restaurant or get a haircut for the first

time in over three months on Saturday as England took its

biggest steps yet towards resumption of normal life.

Pubs were allowed to start serving from 6am, sparking

worries of over-indulgence on what the media dubbed a "Super

Saturday" of coronavirus restrictions being eased. Some

hairdressers were reported to have opened at the stroke of

midnight.

The Holland Tringham pub in south London, part of the JD

Wetherspoon chain, opened at 8am and was about three

quarters full by 11.20am.

"It's beautiful just to get back and have a pint," said Jim

Martin, a 56-year old carpenter.

Julie Scott, a 43-year-old teacher, was there with her

family for drinks and food.

"I think it's just where everyone gets to socialise and

catch up with people that they haven't seen...it's nice to just

get together," she said.

Others complained that the lockdown, which began in late

March and has been gradually eased in recent weeks, had lasted

too long.

"It's about time they opened them up," said pensioner Ron

Lock.

Police chiefs are worried the reopening of pubs could fuel

drunken and irresponsible behaviour, while hospitals have been

warned to prepare for a New Year's Eve-style weekend.

"There's an element of decompression going on, particularly

with younger people who've had some very responsible parents

keeping them in over recent weeks," Marc Jones, Police and Crime

Commissioner for Lincolnshire, told BBC radio.

Britain has been the European country worst hit by the

coronavirus, with more than 300,000 infections and an official

death toll of 44,131. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government

has faced criticism from the opposition over its handling of the

pandemic - including locking down later than some other parts of

Europe.

The Sun newspaper predicted that 15 million pints (8.5

million litres) of beer would be sunk in England on Saturday,

though some pub-goers may be deterred by the unsettled weather.

In another relaxation of lockdown rules two households can

now meet indoors as long as social distancing is maintained, and

overnight stays are allowed.

The rule changes apply only to England as the devolved

nations in the United Kingdom - Wales, Scotland and Northern

Ireland - have been setting their own timetables for easing

lockdown restrictions.

Johnson called on people to behave responsibly and respect

social distancing regulations as the risk of a resurgence of

coronavirus remains. Mindful of an economy that has taken a

hammering because of the lockdown, he also stressed the

importance of supporting businesses.

"The success of these businesses, the livelihoods of those

who rely on them, and ultimately the economic health of the

whole country is dependent on every single one of us acting

responsibly," he said at a news conference on Friday. "We must

not let them down."

Pub-goers will find the atmosphere rather different from the

usual Saturday-night scrum.

Numbers are limited, no one can stand at the bar and there

will be no live music. Patrons will also have to give their

details to allow tracers to identify them if anyone later tests

positive.

Wetherspoons, which is one of the UK's biggest chains, said

it had invested 11 million pounds ($13.7 million) in safety

measures.

It is not taking bookings, but said at busy times numbers

would be controlled by staff.

Reuters

Related Topics:

coronavirus