THIRSTY Brits braved snow and bitterly cold conditions today as pub beer gardens reopened for the first time in months.
Huge queues were seen outside boozers from midnight and continuing throughout the day – despite temperatures plunging to -3C.
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Punters shivered as pubs served up al fresco pints in bracing conditions, with the mercury a bone-chilling 1C in the capital this morning.
And they continued to pile into make-shift beer gardens throughout the day to make the most of their newfound freedom.
Pals knocked back pints on deckchairs at The Cat and Fiddle Inn in Macclesfield, Cheshire, surrounded by snowy ground.
And groups of friends reunited at pubs across Newcastle, Huddersfield and Portsmouth, wrapped up in coats, scarves and woolly hats.
Hungry diners also flocked to restaurants – but needed to pile on the layers as snow carpeted the country.
Two were pictured tucking into a meal in Cranleigh, Surrey – undeterred by the heavy downfall.
Pub were forced to find creative ways to keep customers toasty.
Brewer Marston’s has kitted out some venues such as The Manor House in Kinver, Staffs, with tepees to keep punters warm.
Others are offering hot-water bottles.
Thankfully the sun did shine in some parts of the country as lockdown lifted, with hundreds of diners packed onto Canal Street in Manchester to soak up the rays while they ate.
And people were pictured celebrating their first freshly pulled pints in months on the coast in Ramsgate, Kent.
Brits also raced to get their hair done and hit the shops as lockdown eased across England today.
Pent-up demand will see £1.5billion — that’s £2.7million a minute — spent in venues and reopening attractions between 9am and 6pm.
Pictures showed shoppers queuing outside a Primark stores in Birmingham and West Thurrock, Essex, as the retailer opened its doors at 6am.
It comes as:
- Boris Johnson urged Brits to behave responsibly as pubs reopened
- Brits flocked to get haircuts for the first time in months as salons reopened
- Here is our ultimate guide to lockdown rules as they are eased today
- Brits have been urged to raise a toast to Prince Philip following the Duke’s death on Friday
- Boris Johnson had his personal barber visit Downing Street this morning for a fresh trim
The retail giant has reopened 160 shops in England and Wales today, with opening hours extended across almost all stores.
This week, stores will open for two extra hours a day on average – typically an hour earlier and later.
Some bosses will let work-from-home staff pop out for a bargain or beer.
BrightHR, which monitors annual leave at more than 10,000 workplaces, said: “It’s fair to say April 12 is the most requested day off in the last year excluding Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.”
More than a million will visit pubs, with eight million in shops and millions more making day trips.
In the next week, 24 million people — half of England’s adult population — will go drinking or shopping.
Gyms reopened from 6am today, with fitness fanatics pictured attending a strength and conditioning class at Ultimate Fitness Gym in Wallsend, North Tyneside.
Boris Johnson urged the nation to “behave responsibly” as pubs reopened after months of lockdown.
“I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed,” Mr Johnson said.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.”
In England, pubs and restaurants have been making changes during lockdown to maximise their ability to serve customers outside.
But the British Beer and Pub Association estimates that just 40 per cent of licensed premises have the space to reopen for outdoor service.
There will be no 10pm curfews and “substantial meal” barriers — but Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged people to stick to the rules on distancing and handwashing.
Another chilly night is due on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures tipped to continue across the UK.
But temperatures will rise in the coming days ahead of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday.
Nevertheless, bookies have now made this April odds on to become the coldest ever.
The coldest was recorded in 2011 when the mean average for the month was 5.7C.
So far, the mean average for this April is 4.6C.
But Met Office forecaster Nicky Maxey said rising temperatures “could change everything”.
