Crowds flock to England’s pubs and bars for some socially distanced fun

Thirsty Britons went out boozing last night for the second Saturday since pubs in England reopened after months of coronavirus lockdown.

Partygoers in Leeds took to the streets in their droves the same day that 148 Covid-19 deaths were reported – more than double last Saturday’s figure.

Groups of dressed-up revellers stumbled along the streets with the help their friends – with one man pictured carrying another along as the booze-fuelled night progressed.

Some were unable to stand up at all and instead opted to crash to the ground and wait for assistance there.

It follows the reopening of some pubs in England last week for a July 4 bonanza dubbed ‘Super Saturday’.

Thirsty Britons went out boozing last night for the second Saturday since pubs in England reopened after months of coronavirus lockdown

Some were unable to stand up at all and instead opted to crash to the ground and wait for assistance there in Leeds last night

Some were unable to stand up at all and instead opted to crash to the ground and wait for assistance there in Leeds last night

Partygoers in Leeds (pictured) took to the streets in their droves the same day that 148 Covid-19 deaths were reported - more than double last Saturday's figure

Partygoers in Leeds (pictured) took to the streets in their droves the same day that 148 Covid-19 deaths were reported – more than double last Saturday’s figure

People gathered outside a bar in Leeds last night following the reopening of some pubs in England last week for a July 4 bonanza dubbed 'Super Saturday'

People gathered outside a bar in Leeds last night following the reopening of some pubs in England last week for a July 4 bonanza dubbed ‘Super Saturday’

Groups of dressed-up revellers stumbled along the streets with the help their friends

One man was pictured carrying another along as the booze-fuelled night progressed

Groups of dressed-up revellers stumbled along the streets with the help their friends – with one man pictured carrying another along as the booze-fuelled night progressed

But just half of all pubs chose to reopen with thousands of landlords refusing to pour pints for the public amid fears that it is impractical and costly to pubs to serve customers while capacity is reduced and social distancing stays in place.

Concerns about the spread of coronavirus, a fresh wave of outbreaks if lockdown is eased too rapidly and widely, and a second costly lockdown are also high among independent businesses. 

With tipsy millennials flirting with each other after months of isolation, pub landlords are battling to keep them apart to save them from flouting social distancing rules and spread coronavirus. 

Just half of all pubs chose to reopen with thousands of landlords refusing to pour pints for the public amid fears that it is impractical and costly to pubs to serve customers while capacity is reduced and social distancing stays in place. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

Just half of all pubs chose to reopen with thousands of landlords refusing to pour pints for the public amid fears that it is impractical and costly to pubs to serve customers while capacity is reduced and social distancing stays in place. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

Concerns about the spread of coronavirus, a fresh wave of outbreaks if lockdown is eased too rapidly and widely, and a second costly lockdown are also high among independent businesses. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

Concerns about the spread of coronavirus, a fresh wave of outbreaks if lockdown is eased too rapidly and widely, and a second costly lockdown are also high among independent businesses. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

Yesterday saw 148 deaths from coronavirus - a figure over twice that of the 67 people who died from the virus last Saturday and more than triple that of Friday - sparking fresh fears about a second wave. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

Yesterday saw 148 deaths from coronavirus – a figure over twice that of the 67 people who died from the virus last Saturday and more than triple that of Friday – sparking fresh fears about a second wave. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

A further 820 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of infections to 288,953. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

A further 820 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of infections to 288,953. Pictured: Revellers in Leeds last night

A group of girls were seen gathered on a street corner in Leeds on Saturday night - the second Saturday of pubs and bars being open again

A group of girls were seen gathered on a street corner in Leeds on Saturday night – the second Saturday of pubs and bars being open again

Three women were seen chatting to one another while on a night out in Leeds last nights. Bars and pubs are now able to reopen with social distancing in place

Three women were seen chatting to one another while on a night out in Leeds last nights. Bars and pubs are now able to reopen with social distancing in place

Police officers roamed the streets last night to make sure revellers stayed out of trouble. Pictured: A woman speaking to officers in Leeds

Police officers roamed the streets last night to make sure revellers stayed out of trouble. Pictured: A woman speaking to officers in Leeds

Three women walked the streets of Leeds while on a night out last week. Last week's 'Super Saturday' bonanza was the first day pubs and bars were allowed to reopen

Three women walked the streets of Leeds while on a night out last week. Last week’s ‘Super Saturday’ bonanza was the first day pubs and bars were allowed to reopen

One man was seen consoling another as they sat on the pavement in Leeds on the second weekend since lockdown measures were lifted

One man was seen consoling another as they sat on the pavement in Leeds on the second weekend since lockdown measures were lifted

One woman leaned against a wall as she took a break while on a night out in Leeds, on the second weekend of pubs and bars reopening

One woman leaned against a wall as she took a break while on a night out in Leeds, on the second weekend of pubs and bars reopening 

Revellers were seen on the streets of Leeds as they enjoyed the second weekend of lockdown lifting measures yesterday

Revellers were seen on the streets of Leeds as they enjoyed the second weekend of lockdown lifting measures yesterday

Publicans have told of how difficult it is to contain the urges of millennials amid crowded scenes in Soho, central London. 

Louise Chauvin, 26, who runs the Jaguar Shoes bar in Hoxton, told The Times:  ‘It’s quite hard to communicate to customers, especially after two or three drinks, that they need to behave. 

‘They can’t just get up and go to the bar and get a drink or go to another table and chat to someone random they don’t know. Mostly the issue we have is there’s a table of pretty ladies and a table of pretty boys and they just go over, like, ‘All right do you want a drink?’ – you can’t do that.’

Roy O’Keefe, owner of The Tib Street Tavern in Manchester, said: ‘The older crowd don’t seem to be coming in as much, it’s all lager that we’re selling at the moment – so you can tell it’s a younger age group.’ 

One woman was seen helping another up the curb in Leeds as they enjoyed a night out on Saturday. It was the second weekend since lockdown measures were further lifted

One woman was seen helping another up the curb in Leeds as they enjoyed a night out on Saturday. It was the second weekend since lockdown measures were further lifted

Pub-goers enjoyed a drink outdoors in Leeds. Pubs are able to serve as long as social distancing measures are put in place

Pub-goers enjoyed a drink outdoors in Leeds. Pubs are able to serve as long as social distancing measures are put in place

A group of women enjoyed their night out on the streets of Leeds on the second Saturday that pubs were allowed to reopen

A group of women enjoyed their night out on the streets of Leeds on the second Saturday that pubs were allowed to reopen

Yesterday saw 148 deaths from coronavirus – a figure over twice that of the 67 people who died from the virus last Saturday and more than triple that of Friday – sparking fresh fears about a second wave.

A further 820 people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of infections to 288,953.

The new data from the Department of Health and Social Care takes into account fatalities in hospitals, care homes and the wider community. 

It is a different toll to the 38 people who tested positive for coronavirus and died in hospital in England, with just one death earlier recorded in Wales and no new fatalities reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours. 

The higher figure comes three weeks after shops were allowed to reopen in England – a gap that is significant because it generally takes several weeks before changes in lockdown policy show up in death data.

Since then lockdown has been eased even further, with cafes, restaurants and pubs allowed to reopen – though since these measures only came into force a week ago, they are unlikely to be reflected in data yet. 

Revellers enjoyed their night out in Leeds last night. Saturday marked the second weekend since pubs, bars and restaurants were able to reopen

Revellers enjoyed their night out in Leeds last night. Saturday marked the second weekend since pubs, bars and restaurants were able to reopen

One woman walks along the streets of Leeds as relaxed lockdown measures allowed pubs and bars to reopen again

One woman enjoys a night out in Leeds

One woman walks along the streets of Leeds as relaxed lockdown measures allowed pubs and bars to reopen again