Revellers crowded into bars in London, Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool to kick off the Bank Holiday weekend as diners are allowed to eat and drink indoors for the first time since the third lockdown was eased.
Groups of young women dressed to impress as they posed for photos, queued to get into bars early and even performed back flips on the second weekend that restrictions were relaxed.
Though nightclubs remain closed, pubs and bars are drawing crowds of friends – in stark contrast to the early May Bank Holiday, when hospitality firms were still unable to properly reopen to punters.
Jubilant scenes come amid increasing concerns that the Indian variant is surging in parts of England after daily cases surpassed 4,000 on Friday, for the first time since early April.
However, ministers were expecting infections to rise as lockdown was eased, while No10 is hoping that the vaccine roll-out will prevent infections leading to serious illness and death.
Revellers in Newcastle enjoy a night out as they kick off the barmy May Bank Holiday weekend
Huge numbers of revellers sitting outside pubs and bars in Soho, central London as they see in the Bank Holiday weekend
A couple of loved-up partygoers cuddled together on the streets of Leeds on Friday night on the first day of the long weekend
A group of friends in high heels pose for photos as they go out in Leeds as they see in the Bank Holiday weekend
Friends are seeing walking through Soho, central London as they enjoy drinks and dinner at the start of the weekend
There were wild and raucous scenes across the country as people made up for lost time by partying the night away with friends
Two friends walk through Leeds without their shoes as they enjoy drinks as they see in the Bank Holiday weekend
A crowd of boys chant and cheers as they enjoy a night out on the town in Leeds at the start of the bank holiday weekend
Two friends pose as they enjoy a night out on the town in Leeds city centre at the start of the bank holiday weekend
A group of friends pose for photos as they enjoy a night out in Newcastle as they see in the Bank Holiday weekend
Jumping for joy! A group of friends leap in the air during a night out in Newcastle on Friday
A group of friends pose for photos as they enjoy a night out in Newcastle as they see in the Bank Holiday weekend
Revellers were out in force in Leeds on Friday evening as the post-lockdown celebrations continued long into the night
A woman takes a swig from her bottle as she walks through Leeds city centre with her friends on a busy Friday night
Two friends enjoy an intimate moment on a bench as they enjoy a night out on the town in Leeds at the start of the bank holiday weekend
A woman gets lifted up onto her friend’s shoulder as they enjoy a night out on the town in Leeds at the start of the bank holiday weekend
Covid marshals and police are seen outside the Prince Edward theatre in London while revellers enjoy drinks in Soho
A young reveller wears oversized green sunglasses as she poses for a photo with a friend on the streets of Newcastle on Friday
Three friends link arms as they enjoy a night out on the town in Leeds city centre at the start of the bank holiday weekend
Revellers kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend by enjoying a Friday night out in Newcastle tonight around the pubs and clubs
Revellers make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend in Liverpool
Revellers kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend by enjoying a Friday night out in Newcastle tonight around the pubs and clubs
Revellers kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend by enjoying a Friday night out in Newcastle tonight around the pubs and clubs
A woman carried a bottle and her shoes during a night out on the town in Leeds at the start of the bank holiday weekend
A reveller performs a back flip on a night out in Newcastle on Friday night
Revellers kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend by enjoying a Friday night out in Newcastle tonight around the pubs and clubs
A group of friends dressed to impressed head out in Newcastle tonight to kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend
Friday night revellers enjoy bars and restaurants on Osborne Road in Jesmond, Newcastle
Revellers sit on the floor in Newcastle as they see in the May Bank Holiday weekend
Friday night revellers enjoy bars and restaurants on Osborne Road in Jesmond, Newcastle
Friends in Liverpool posed for photos as they head out to pubs and bars to see in the May Bank Holiday
Revellers kick start the Spring Bank Holiday weekend by enjoying a Friday night out in Newcastle tonight around the pubs and clubs
Friday night revellers enjoy bars and restaurants on Osborne Road in Jesmond, Newcastle
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