Finally, we are back in business!
After almost four months of lockdown, the United Kingdom reopened its doors mid-April after a fast-paced and well-organized vaccination campaign which gave positive results it seems, let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Finally pubs, restaurants and shops have welcomed back their customers and it feels ‘unreal’ to be back with friends, to be back outside, to be back visiting places, to be back out to have a drink.
Many London pubs, which had been closed since well before Christmas, still had Christmas trees and holiday decorations up on their windows, something surreal to see around Easter time.
At first, pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen only if they had tables outdoors, therefore some businesses with a few tables or no tables decided to wait until mid-May to reopen (May 17th to be precise), when all the businesses would be able to welcome customers inside as well.
England feels almost back to normal, between a pint of beer at the pub and a haircut at the barber.
The first day of the easing of the lockdown measures imposed in January by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a Monday and it was baptised by many as ‘Manic Monday’ after the song of the band the Bangles from the 80s because of the joy and the craziness of the people who literally flooded the streets (maybe even a bit too much!) overjoyed by their regained freedom.
A return to normality was possible only thanks to the vaccination campaign carried out by her Majesty's government, with the United Kingdom breaking the record number of fifty million vaccines administered and the goal remains to administer the first dose to the entire adult population over 18 years of age by the 31st of July.
Although alfresco dining reopened first and then other services too, Mr. Johnson himself asked his fellow citizens to behave responsibly and it is no coincidence that practically simultaneously with the easing of the anti-Covid measures, the first fines were also issued for the excessive gatherings in front of the premises of dozens of people not spaced apart.
Regarding eating at the restaurant or drinking at the pub, some rules remained, such as the “rule of the six” meaning six people maximum can eat together at one table (unless they belong to the same family household). In order to sit at a restaurant/pub it is also necessary to check-in first using the NHS (National Health Service) app to be tracked if needed and it’s possible to use the facilities indoors only by wearing a mask.
But more disciplined queues have also formed outside some of the capital London's best-known shopping streets, such as Oxford Street.
Here hundreds of young people 'gathered' to await the reopening of the shops.
Nothing to do about events though because the government has also blocked the organization of celebrations with many people.
In fact, at the moment there are a maximum of fifteen participants admitted to weddings and thirty people can attend funerals which does not make much sense when you see streets flooded with people.
If all goes well by the 21st of June also clubs shall reopen and perhaps some restrictions shall disappear but it’s still up-in-the-air and it will depend on how well the situation goes.
The government is currently discussing about the rules regarding the vaccination passport too and the regulations to travel this upcoming summer and in the near future because at the moment it’s still not possible to leave the country unless you have some important family, work or health-related issues.
Let’s hope for the best!
Pub night, post-Lockdown
