DRINKERS in Tier 2 areas hit the pubs tonight while streets across the country were deserted – on what is usually the booziest night of the year.
Black Eye Friday, affectionately named for its tendency to prompt drink-fuelled punch ups as the Christmas cheer spills over, has been dampened this year by the global coronavirus pandemic shutting bars and banning socialising.
Last year saw cops descend on the UK’s city centres as eggnog fuelled fights broke out and Brits celebrated the last Friday before Christmas – perhaps a little too enthusiastically.
But this December, two-thirds of the country are locked into tough Tier 3 measures which see all hospitality businesses shuttered except for takeaway.
However, revellers in York -which is currently in Tier 2 – were seen raising a glass to the festive season – but alongside a substantial meal, of course.
Boozers in the city donned festive Santa hats as they headed out for some pre-Christmas weekend fun.
Meanwhile, glamorous Liverpudlians – also in Tier 2 – braved the drizzle to party the night away.
Groups of boozy revellers dressed to the nines were seen queuing outside the city’s famous Jaloux club, which is sold out for reservations right up to New Year’s Day.
And drinkers in Guildford were seen making the most of the last night of freedom before they are plunged into Tier 3 tomorrow alongside the majority of Surrey.
But across usually buzzing cities like London, Cardiff and Swansea, streets were deserted.
The capital was locked into tougher measures Wednesday, with bars, pubs and restaurants shut just weeks after the behemoth emerged from the November national lockdown.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced 11million more Brits in London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire would be put under Tier 3 restrictions earlier this week.
And as Wales teeters on the edge of another national lockdown come Boxing Day, usually packed watering holes in Cardiff and Swansea had been transformed into ghost towns, on what is called “mad Friday” in the country.
First Minister Mark Drakeford promised to slam the whole country into a three-week shutdown after the holidays following a spike in Covid cases.
On the other hand, drinkers in the Isle of White, Isle of Scilly and Cornwall escaped the gloomier Christmas with Tier 1 levels.
It means they can head to the pub – as long as they stick to the Rule of Six.
The 10pm curfew is still in place – but people will have until 11pm to finish drinks and leave.
Last year saw much crazier scenes, with extra police on the streets and crazy snaps that captured care and corona-free drinkers out enjoying the Christmas cheer.
But No 10 has urged Brits to stick to the measures this year, after Boris Johnson said it would be “inhumane” to cancel Christmas.
However, the Government have refused to rule out a 2021 lockdown.
The PM said he “hoped” that England would not have to shut down once again – after Northern Ireland joined Wales in saying it would shut down from Boxing Day onwards.
The PM said today when quizzed over whether England would face a third lockdown: “We’re hoping very much that we will be able to avoid anything like that. But the reality is that the rates of infection have increased very much in the last few weeks.”
Meanwhile, fears are growing that a possible Tier 4 might be needed in the worst-hit parts of England after Christmas – as cases rose in every area last week.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is understood to be considering additional curbs, including closing non-essential shops if mass testing fails to make an impact, The Times reported.
A Whitehall official told the paper: “There is a case for going further than Tier 3 and it is getting stronger.
“[That could mean] closure of non-essential retail, stay-at-home orders.
“That would have to be actively considered in conversation with the local authority.”
