BRITS in tier two lockdown packed out city centre pubs and bars last night – despite new rules prohibiting households mixing indoors.
Revellers enjoyed big nights out in Leeds, London, Manchester and Birmingham, where nightspots remain open, but strict laws are in operation.
Under tier two, people aren’t allowed to mix with friends or family from other households indoors.
One in two people across England are now banned from casual sex or meeting friends for a pint due to the scale of the restrictions, which cover areas as far south as London and as far north as Northumberland.
But the strict conditions didn’t appear to have stopped many who hit the town in big groups last night for a drink.
In Manchester, young party-goers walked between pubs in groups to make the most of what could be their last night out of 2020.
Boris Johnson has threatened to force the area into tier three – meaning nightspots would be forced to close.
But he’s faced a battle from local leaders, including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham – hailed the ‘King in the North’ by Game of Thrones fans on Twitter.
The politicians are expected to have further discussions about the situation this morning after the PM used his national address on Friday evening to hit out at Mr Burnham.
It’s believed Mr Johnson could send Greater Manchester into the third tier as early as tomorrow – leading young Mancunians to make the most of their evening.
After the 10pm curfew, many queued outside supermarkets and shops, leaving with their arms full of bottles so they could continue their evening.
Cases per 100,000 people in Manchester have dropped this week, from 558.0 to 473.0.
The most recent stats show 2,615 new cases were recorded.
Nottingham continues to have the highest rate in England, with 3,070 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 11 – the equivalent of 922.2 cases per 100,000 people.
In London, where cases are surging, thousands of people gathered on the streets after venues closed at 10pm.
The city is now in tougher measures after mayor Sadiq Khan pushed for more lockdown laws – but despite that, it’s the second night in a row that huge groups have met and chatted outside in Soho.
On Friday – hours before nine million people living in the city were plunged into tier two – crowds filled the street, leading to clashes with cops.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, the Met’s lead for the Covid-19 crisis, told the Evening Standard: “Frustratingly, we have seen a small number of dangerous and reckless breaches of the regulations and as the alert level in London increases, we are adopting our policing approach.
“Communities across London can therefore expect to see an increase in our efforts to deal with the most deliberate, harmful and flagrant breaches of regulations.”
With the exception of Richmond of Thames, nine out of 10 boroughs with the highest coronavirus rates are north of the Thames.
Ealing has the highest rate in London at 136.9 cases per 100,000 people.
Richmond follows, with a rate of 133.3, while Hackney and the City of London both have 124.8.
Other areas in the top ten are Redbridge, Harrow, Haringey, Barnet and Hammersmith and Fulham.
Meanwhile, in Leeds – which is also teetering on the brink of tier three – party-goers gathered outside after curfew closed bars to carry on downing drinks.
One man held a box of beer aloft as people crowded round him, while a group of girls danced in the street after kicking-out time.
It comes as Yorkshire recorded another 2,000 positive coronavirus tests in a week.
There were also a further 10 deaths from Covid-19, in York, Bradford, Barnsley, Mid Yorkshire, Doncaster and Huddersfield.
And in Birmingham, enterprising buskers set up PA systems to attract crowds heading home for the night.
