Brits relish al fresco booze-ups as sun shines on first Saturday of lockdown easing

Brits flocked to pubs across England today to celebrate the first weekend since lockdown restrictions were eased.

Revellers took advantage of the glorious 16C sunshine to visit beer gardens after coronavirus measures were loosened on April 12.

The relaxing of restrictions also means groups of six people can now meet at pubs and cafes for the first time since November last year.

And punters have been making the most of their new freedoms, with pub gardens brimming with drinkers since they opened this morning.

Cities such as Manchester and Liverpool have seen queues forming around popular venues.

Parts of southern England enjoyed highs of 16C, with temperatures set to rise to 18C early next week.

About 1.5 million drinkers are tipped to down about six million pints today, with some pubs reporting sales ten times higher than before the coronavirus pandemic began.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Pubs and pub-goers are looking forward to the first weekend drinks in months.

“We’re beginning to rebuild our businesses and reconnect our communities.”

Many high street retailers, which have also opened for the first time since December, have enjoyed a sales boom, with queues spotted in London’s Regent Street.

Last night, meanwhile, thousands headed to beer gardens and bars across the country.

People were seen dancing in the streets to celebrate pubs reopening before scenes quickly turned messy.

In Soho, London, police were seen intervening as scuffles broke out at as the evening wore on.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said people should not behave in the same way as they did before the pandemic and urged people to remain for cautious for “a little bit more time”.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to continue to “exercise restraint”.

But photographs taken on Friday night show boozed-up Brits dancing in the street and gathering crowds.

Heavy police presences were seen in most major city centres. Patrols will also be ramped up in parks and beaches this weekend too with the temperatures expected to rise again.

Forecasters said the mercury could reach 17C by the end of the weekend before peaking on Monday.

Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: “For the vast majority it’s just looking dry with spells of sunshine and it’s going to feel a little warmer compared to previous days.

“It will feel quite warm in light winds.”

Drinkers in Scotland and Wales will have to wait a little longer to enjoy the pub, with cafes, restaurants and beer gardens allowed to reopen from April 26.