In pictures: Pubs and hairdressers open at midnight as lockdown eases
Customers seen queuing outside pubs before midnight on Sunday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pubs, hairdressers and beauticians across England wasted no time welcoming customers back as lockdown restrictions eased at midnight on Monday.
Salons and hairdressers can now treat customers for the first time since the third national lockdown was legally imposed in England on 6 January.
Pub gardens and restaurants with outdoor seating are also now allowed to reopen their doors, along with indoor gyms, swimming pools and non-essential retail shops.
One of the beauty companies delivering midnight services was Secret Spa, which offers at-home salon and spa treatments across London, Manchester and Brighton.
Co-owner Emily Ewart-Perks, hair stylist Nas Ganev and tan artist Magdelaine Gibson, visited a home in Balham, south London, at the stroke of midnight to treat clients Amy Pallister and Isabella Robinson.
Ms Ewart-Perks said: “It’s so amazing. It’s been such a long time coming. I know that our therapists are just so happy to be working with clients again.
“Everyone has really missed the social contact of the day-to-day job and making clients happy. We haven’t been able to do that for the best part of five to six months.”
In some parts of England, customers queued outside their favourite pubs before midnight in anticipation and were welcomed in the second the clock struck 12.
The previous 10pm curfew rule and the requirement to order a substantial meal with a drink will no longer apply to pubs serving only alcohol, but social distancing must be observed.
However, the British Beer and Pub Association estimates that just 40 per cent of licensed premises have the space to reopen to serve customers outdoors.
The prime minister Boris Johnson urged the nation to “behave responsibly” ahead of Monday, and said: “I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.”
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments