Early birds raise glass to freedom as pubs reopen Thirsty punters sink their first pints at 6am
THE sun was shining and spirits were high in Rochdale as pubs and restaurants opened up for outdoor seating.
The Flying Horse saw particularly busy scenes on Monday with its new outdoor seating area, which enables people to be socially distanced.
Other restaurants and pubs have also opened for outside dining and drinking, following changes of lockdown restrictions, coming into force on April 12. Nonessential shops and businesses such as gyms and hairdressers also reopened.
Delighted punters enjoyed their first pint in the pub as early as 6am as beer gardens reopened.
Owner of Waterside, Lisa Groom, has extended her outdoor area to accommodate her customers.
She said: “It’s going really well so far – everyone seems happy to be out and relaxed.
“People have said they’re just happy to be out and about – people are happy to come out and eat food. The weather has been lovely.”
Tom Mcneeney, Business Development Manager for several pubs across Rochdale, including The Flying Horse, The Red Lion, The Baum, and The Hare on The Hill, said: “It’s been a bit special – I think because this is the first day and because you can only sit outside it feels different.
“Everybody seems to be embracing that.
Pints of Guinness were poured just after sunrise at the Sportsman in Whitworth.
Landlord Steve Butterworth said: “It’s all going very well; we opened at 6 o’clock this morning. Six people were in and they’re still here.
“It was very, very cold and very frosty as we’ve still got some snow here. But they were eager to get in and it’s going great.”
Jenny Dempsey was one of the first to arrive with friends Alison Brook and Emma Buckle.
“It was pretty cold when we got here,” she said from her spot in the pub garden.
“But we’ve got our big coats on, I’ve got a big jumper on, we’ve got gloves and blankets!”
Step Two of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown and follows months of closure for large parts of the hospitality sector as people were urged to stay at home.
Boris Johnson urged the public to ‘ behave responsibly’.
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