10m pints to be drunk tonight (so long as the weather holds)
THIRSTY punters buoyed by balmy weather are expected to sink 10 million pints tonight, in the biggest bout of outdoor drinking for six months.
Millions will be eager to make up for lost lockdown time as the mercury is set to reach 57F (14C).
In an estimated £100million blowout, orders are set to be double that of a usual Saturday night. Punters no longer have to eat substantial meals with their drinks and there is no 10pm curfew.
However, they must be seated at an outside table, follow the outdoor rule of six, or be in a group with no more than two households.
Pubs and bars across England opened outdoor seating from last Monday.
It is thought 20,000 pubs and 20,000 restaurants will serve 12 million people in England.
But the weekend could be a policing nightmare, especially in London and city centres.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Jane Connors said: “We will be deploying a number of officers ahead of a demonstration in central London. I must stress we remain in a public health crisis and gathering in large numbers presents a real risk of transmitting Covid-19. We need only look at what is happening now in some parts of Europe and our own recent experience to see how quickly things can change.”
Yesterday marked the first weekend pubs and bars across England could open since early November and tonight is set to be even busier.
Emergency services warned revellers to enjoy themselves but to know their limits.
James Pullan, 56, landlord of The Griffin Inn in Fletching, East Sussex, said after being forced to furlough
35 staff and losing more than £1million, his pub was fully booked tonight.
He said: “I honestly don’t think I could cope with another lockdown. But we’re back in business, finally.”
Kate Nicholls, head of trade body UK Hospitality, said: “Bookings are very strong for the first few weeks of outdoor reopening. People are eager to socialise again.”
Wales and Scotland will keep pubs shut until April 27, while pubs and cafes can reopen in Northern Ireland for outdoor service on April 30 and indoors from May 24.