Coronavirus: Pubs and hairdressers reopen as England's lockdown eases

Image copyright PA Media Image caption A member of staff pulls the first pint at the reopening of The Toll Gate pub in Hornsey, north London

Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas in England are opening their doors for the first time in three months after a major relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Businesses reopening on Saturday must observe strict social distancing rules.

As measures eased, Boris Johnson urged people to act responsibly, while the government's scientific advisers said the latest step was not "risk-free".

The health secretary has warned those who get carried away could be jailed.

Matt Hancock told the Daily Mail people were entitled to enjoy themselves at pubs, but added that people who start fights or cause other disorder "could end up behind bars if you break the law".

Latest figures show a further 137 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total number of deaths to 44,131.

Image copyright Martin Duncan Image caption There were long queues outside a barbers in Clapham, south London Image copyright PA Media Image caption Men also had to wait patiently for a cut in Ashford, Kent

Restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas were allowed to reopen just after midnight, with some hair salons welcoming clients in the early hours, but pubs had to wait until 06:00 BST after Downing Street expressed fears of early morning partying.

Other places now allowed to reopen in England include:

Outdoor gyms, children's playgrounds and other outdoor spaces Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries Funfairs and theme parks, amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, social clubs and model villages Places of worship can open for prayers and services, including weddings with up to 30 guests

Two households will also be able to meet indoors or outside, including for overnight stays, although they have to maintain social distancing.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Bar staff were prepared for customers at the Rochester Castle pub in Stoke Newington, north London

Mr Johnson said a timetable for reopening other businesses including gyms, nail salons and night clubs would be set out next week.

Leicester 'left out'

However, in Leicester, pubs and other venues remain closed after the city became the first local lockdown on Monday, following a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Police in the city said they were preparing for a busy weekend, with more officers on duty than during a typical New Year's Eve.

Leicester resident Dhansukh Rana, 79, said: "It is sad they have left out Leicester when the rest of the UK is moving on."

Image caption Leicester resident Dhansukh Rana goes out for walks and exercise "because, at my age, I have to keep moving"

Chancellor Rishi Sunak welcomed the reopening of businesses. On a visit to The Bell and Crown in Chiswick, west London, he said Britain's pubs and bars employ almost half a million people, "which is why it's such good news that so many people are able to return to work this weekend, helping us all to enjoy summer safely".

But some 31% of bars, pubs and restaurants will stay closed on Saturday, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

NTIA boss Michael Kill said some association members felt "stuck in a bizarre tug of war between government, licensing and planning regulators and the police".

The Tollington pub in north London said it hopes to welcome customers in the near future - but only "when it is safe to do so".

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Members of the public wear face masks and socially distance as they ride the Oblivion rollercoaster at Alton Towers

People in England should stay 2m apart, but the new "one metre plus" guidance means they can get closer if they use "mitigation" measures, such as face coverings and not sitting face-to-face.

Prof Robert West, an epidemiologist from University College London, urged caution as lockdown eases, telling BBC Breakfast: "The virus still is with us. We are looking at around 20,000 new infections a week and around 1,000 deaths a week and the rates aren't coming down very fast so people have to be tremendously cautious here."

He said the hospitality sector is doing "everything" it can to reopen safely, but added: "As we open up these businesses you will get more contact… and that means you will get more infections and unfortunately it means you will get more deaths."

Asked about excess deaths and whether the UK has done better or worse than other countries, statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter, from the University of Cambridge, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have done badly."

This is a big moment. Hospitality chiefs have described it as an important development for the national psyche.

But it's also a moment when health and economic concerns collide.

Trade body Hospitality UK estimates that 53% of pubs and bars and 47% of restaurants will reopen this weekend generating a total - they hope - of nine million visits.

But while a sector that employs three million people is keen to reopen, many are anxious. Will too many customers return to manage venues safely or too few to make it economically worthwhile?

Social distancing measures will both reduce capacity and increase front-line costs.

Three-quarters of businesses expect to run their businesses at a loss this year and the industry estimates that even if this weekend goes well, the sector could lose 320,000 jobs.

It is a high-stakes gamble and the government will be watching nervously to see how the public responds and behaves.

That will ultimately determine whether we are getting a sufficient economic bang for the health risk buck that medical experts say we are inevitably spending this weekend.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Sandra Jacobs booked a midnight appointment at Carole Rickaby's hair salon

Sandra Jacobs was one of the first people through the door at her local hairdressers in Camden, north London, after midnight, describing it as "such a relief" to be back in the salon chair.

"My hair was everywhere. I'd been wearing hats to hide it," she said, adding that her new haircut made her feel "normal again".

Media captionSome salons opened their doors as the clock struck 12

Her hairdresser, Carole Rickaby, said it was great to pick up the scissors again. "We're being very cautious with aprons and facemasks, but it can be a bit of a problem," she said. "I wear glasses, so wearing a mask as well made my glasses steam up whenever I tried to talk.

"I ended up just telling Sandra she can talk to me and I'll just listen."

Meanwhile, newlyweds Louise Arnold and Jennifer Wilson, both 22, are believed to be the first to marry in England after restrictions were eased.

The couple tied the knot at 00:01 BST in Cheshire in front of 16 guests, and the wedding was available online for friends and family who were unable to attend.

They have been engaged for three years and had just over a week to prepare for their rearranged nuptials, after cancelling their previous plans.

Image copyright Family handout Image caption Jennifer Wilson and Louise Arnold hope to have a ceremony with 120 guests next year

What is happening in the rest of the UK?

Each UK nation's lockdown measures differ, including varying rules on the reopening of food and drink outlets.

In Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants could reopen on Friday.

In Scotland, beer gardens and outdoor restaurants will be allowed to reopen from 6 July, and indoor areas can be used from 15 July.

The Welsh government has promised talks with the hospitality sector about a "potential phased" reopening, but no dates have yet been given.

Meanwhile, Prince William visited a village pub in Norfolk which had been closed since March.

Media captionPrince William enjoyed cider and chips in a Norfolk beer garden as it prepared to reopen

In other developments:

Recreational cricket could resume from next weekend, the prime minister has said Almost 30,000 more care home residents in England and Wales died during the coronavirus outbreak than during the same period in 2019, ONS figures show Portugal has said its exclusion from a list of countries for which quarantine will not apply for people returning to England is "absurd" Dozens of landmarks across the country will be lit up blue later to mark 72 years since the founding of the NHS

---

How are you planning to deal with lockdown easing? Are you going to meet loved ones for the first time since it began? Are you working? Are you happy or concerned about lifted restrictions? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: