COVID-19: The party was in full swing on the first Saturday after a long lockout | UK News

The party was in full swing in Soho the first weekend after a long lockout.

People danced in the streets and groups erupted into spontaneous cheers, as a largely young crowd filled tables, most of which were reserved for Saturday and Sunday.

Pierre, who was celebrating his 21st birthday with friends, reserved a place a month ago.

“I’m so happy to be able to celebrate with my friends, I feel free,” he said.

Couple Joshua and Sophie were excited to go out for a meal for the first time in over four months.

“I spend time with my baby outside the house, we see the beautiful sun shining, we see wonderful faces, all of these people are enjoying their food, their miso soup, the energy is wonderful,” Joshua said .

Those without reservations lingered on the sidewalk, the crowd sometimes becoming dense. Restaurant owners say customer demand is unprecedented.

“The phone has not stopped ringing since we turned it back on, and for online reservations the majority of the time left was either early enough or late enough,” said Craig Gordon, owner of Home Restaurant. SW15 in Putney, South London which is full for the next four weeks.

“We took a pop-up site and we have 40 covers there,” he adds.

And it’s not just the hospitality – after months of do-it-yourself hairstyles, customers have flocked to Ismail’s Barbers in Kingston with a queue outside.

“It was crazy. We opened at midnight on Monday and have been flat ever since, ”says family business manager Zeshan Ismail. “Because of all the lockdown and the pandemic, I think it changed a lot of people, they wanted a whole new lifestyle, a new hairstyle,” Ismail …