Scores of revellers descended onto the streets of Leeds and Newcastle tonight to toast in the May Bank Holiday and take advantage of the first three-day weekend since Covid rules were relaxed.
Party-goers appeared in hight spirits as they swapped a night in at home to hit the numerous beer gardens and bars in the UK cities and celebrate with their friends into the small hours.
While nightclubs remain closed, pubs and bars drew crowds of people seeking an eagerly awaited night out to their venues.
The scenes come just weeks after coronavirus measures were eased across the country on April 12 as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
A group of revellers hit the streets of Leeds as they toast in the May Bank Holiday and take advantage of the first three-day weekend since Covid rules were relaxed
Two party-goers carry a box of Budweiser beer as they prepare for a night out in Leeds city centre tonight following the relaxation of coronavirus measures
Revellers party into the small hours in Leeds as pubs across the UK begin to open and welcome punters to their venues once more
With celebrations under way, thousands of music fans were also seen flooding Liverpool’s Sefton Park to attend the UK’s first post-lockdown gig headlined by indie band Blossoms today.
In total 5,000 fans were permitted to attend the gig and are not required to wear masks or socially distance during the event.
The line-up included Blossoms, The Lathums and Liverpool singer-songwriter Zuzu and the event formed part of the national Events Research Programme (ERP).
Ticketholders had to take a Lateral Flow Test at a community testing site 24 hours before the event and had to produce a negative result to gain entry.
Attendees will then have to take another test five days after the event as part of the ERP’s research.
Last night city centres across Britain were also seen teeming with jubilant revellers toasting in the May Bank Holiday.
In Wallingford, Oxfordshire, diners braved the conditions despite the rain lashing their umbrellas yesterday during a very wet al fresco lunch.
While others hit the streets of Liverpool as they waited to enter Circus night club to attend a Covid-19 pilot event.
A reveller sits on the pavement as crowds are seen arriving to Newcastle City Centre to enjoy a night out on Sunday
A group of friends arrive to Newcastle city centre and toast in the May Bank Holiday following months of coronavirus restrictions
Jubilant revellers take to the streets of Leeds as they join hundreds across the nation enjoying a three-day weekend
Crowds of people descend onto the streets of Newcastle as hundreds across the country toast in the Bank Holliday
The scenes of celebration come after coronavirus cases dropped by two per cent in a week to 1,671 yesterday while deaths increased by just three amid calls to speed up the easing of lockdown.
The number of Covid cases fell to 1,671 from last Sunday’s 1,712 as the further easing of lockdown rules looks set to go ahead on May 17.
Deaths meanwhile increased to 14, a rise of three compared to the 11 recorded last Sunday.
It comes after Dominic Raab admitted that some rules on wearing face masks and social distancing could remain in place beyond June 21.
The Foreign Secretary warned ‘there will still need to be some safeguards in place’ after that point in comments which sparked an immediate backlash from Tory MPs and the hospitality industry.
On vaccinations, Government data showed that 49,834,997 jabs have been given out in the UK so far – 34,505,380 of which are first doses.
A group of friends sit outside and enjoy a drink as they toast in the May Bank Holiday and take advantage of the first three-day weekend since Covid rules were relaxed
Groups of revellers swapped in a night at home to take to the streets and celebrate the night with their friends
The scenes come just weeks after coronavirus measures were eased on April 12 as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
The rollout also hit the milestone of 15 million second doses after 372,304 Britons returned for their follow-up jabs.
Pub bosses described Dominic Raab’s comments as a ‘red flag’ and warned firms need ‘certainty’ now on the terms on which they will be allowed to reopen heading into the summer.
Conservative MPs said retaining the wearing of face masks and social distancing in some settings like public transport could be acceptable.
But they argued all restrictions must be lifted on June 21 when it comes to pubs, bars and restaurants as they accused ministers of being ‘hyper cautious’.
Crowds of people enjoy a night out in Leeds after coronavirus cases dropped by two per cent in a week to 1,671 yesterday
Friends prepare for a long-awaited three-day weekend as they hit the streets of Leeds and celebrate the relaxation of Covid measures
The weather proved no obstacle to some who sat outside Britain’s pubs and restaurants on Saturday amid the pouring rain
Punters huddled under blankets and coats in the wet weather with diners still forced to remain outside due to Covid restrictions
