‘It’s like Christmas’: Newcastle take a step towards normality as bars and restaurants open up inside UK News

Newcastle took another giant step towards normality on Monday as bars and restaurants opened up their indoor spaces for the first time this year.

National figures have shown wet conditions dampened reopening, with footfall on UK main streets declining despite the latest easing of lockdown restrictions.

Early figures from Springboard research specialists showed high street attendance fell 1.6% at 5 p.m. on Monday, compared to the same time a week ago as bad weather kept many people at home.

But there was a healthy buzz inside the downtown hospitality venues, with patrons enjoying their first meals and pints inside for more than five months.

Karl Richardson, Managing Director of Central Oven & Shaker, said the venue was “70 to 80% more crowded than we would normally expect on a Monday. [pre-pandemic]. “

He said the bar and restaurant were full with 660 people on Saturday.

Karl added: “Next week is exactly the same, and the same the following week.

“I think it’s going to be like this until Christmas – the hospitality industry has been hit hard over the past eight months, but now there is an opportunity.”

It was a similar picture at Market Lane Horticulture bar, where general manager Sam Brown said virtually all tables were reserved for Friday and Saturday.

Danielle Notley, Managing Director of Pleased to Meet You, said: “It’s kind of like Christmas – it was like that last night getting everything ready.”

Carl Christer, Senior Managing Director of Crafted Projects, owner of the bar, added: “It’s a place that people know and love, so it’s great to have the doors open and let people come back to it. interior. This is what we live and breathe. “

While many sites have had a month of foreign trade after opening beer gardens and sidewalk cafes, the Jesmond The Punch Bowl pub has reopened for the first time since last year.

Director Alex Kurc said: “We haven’t opened up our outdoor space, so it’s huge. We decided not to make a reservation as we wanted people to stay as long as they want and feel comfortable.

“It’s pretty full at the moment, it’s pretty much standard for a busy Monday night. We have a few regulars and everyone is happy to be back.

He added, “It’s good to have people back at the pub. There is a lot of apprehension, but hopefully we will stay open this time around and the vaccine rollout will make a big difference. “

The downtown streets seemed quiet enough throughout the evening, but among the revelers braving the weather were Hannah Gibson and her nephew Dale Cole.

The couple were dressed to mark all the celebrations missed during the pandemic – complete with Christmas sweaters, birthday badges, Easter bunny ears and pride flags.

Dale said: “I said when the bars reopened I was going to celebrate everything I missed last year.”

Hannah and Dale had started the festivities in Ashington at 11 a.m. before taking the bus to Newcastle.

Enjoying a drink together in Central Oven & Shaker were friends Estelle Tate, Kieran Carr and Jess Rice.

Estelle said: “It’s better than sitting in the cold. It’s so much better to be able to dress up – as a girl you want to wear nice clothes and you can’t if you’re sitting outside all night.

Kieran added: “It’s a good feeling – it’s a step towards normalcy.”

Another client, David Frankish, said: “It’s good to feel in the world again and to come back to a bit of normalcy.”

Earlier today, Slaley Hall in Northumberland was one of many hotels to reopen its rooms and restaurants inside.

Managing Director Andrew Fox said: “We’re at 80% occupancy for the rest of the month, and it’s going up to 90% for the next three months.

“Weddings have doubled from previous years because there are a lot of people who couldn’t get married last year.

“People want a break, and they deserve a break, especially with fewer opportunities to go abroad.”

It came as cinemas, museums and other places of recreation also welcomed customers again.