England braces for pubs to reopen on Super Saturday as fears of 6am mayhem are calmed

England braces for pubs to reopen on Super Saturday as fears of 6am mayhem are calmed with most bars not set to start serving until after 8am

  • Landlords and bar staff were out at the crack of dawn readying their premises
  • They were preparing for a tsunami of punters as lockdown easing kicks in today
  • Drinkers will sink staggering 15million pints at 23,000 establishments in England

England is braced for ‘pub-ageddon’ as bars and restaurants reopen on Super Saturday but fears of 6am mayhem were calmed with most not set to start serving until after 8am.

Landlords and staff were out at the crack of dawn readying their premises ahead of a tsunami of punters as lockdown easing kicks in.

Drinkers will sink a staggering 15million pints at 23,000 establishments across the country, experts predict.

But pubs were not able to throw open their doors to customers first thing because the regulations enforced their closure until 6am.

With the new coronavirus rules not published until Friday afternoon, some landlords had planned to open as soon as the clock ticked past midnight.

Landlords and staff were out at the crack of dawn readying their premises ahead of a tsunami of punters as lockdown easing kicks in. Pictured: Surrey Docks Weatherspoon in Surrey Quays, south east London

Drinkers will sink a staggering 15million pints at 23,000 establishments across the country, experts predict. Pictured: he Wheatsheaf Pub, Borough Market, central London

Drinkers will sink a staggering 15million pints at 23,000 establishments across the country, experts predict. Pictured: he Wheatsheaf Pub, Borough Market, central London

But Downing Street scotched the swift openings by ensuring the current ban remains in place until after sunrise.

The BrewDog chain of pubs was on Friday cancelling events after the new rules were reported.

Boris Johnson urged the public not to ‘blow it’ by not behaving safely and abiding by social-distancing rules when the restrictions are eased for the hospitality industry.

The regulations signed off by Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote into law a 30-person limit on gatherings at home and outdoors in settings not deemed ‘Covid-secure’.

The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘The regulations also keep in place a list of premises that must remain closed and that includes nightclubs, nail bars and salons, indoor play areas, gyms, conference centres and exhibition halls.

Despite the rules not changing until this morning for pubs, drinkers were still out in Borough Market in force last night

Despite the rules not changing until this morning for pubs, drinkers were still out in Borough Market in force last night

The George, in Eton, Windsor, Berkshire had a staff training evening last night as they get ready to reopen their pub tomorrow

The George, in Eton, Windsor, Berkshire had a staff training evening last night as they get ready to reopen their pub tomorrow

‘Those regulations mostly come into force at 12.01am on Saturday July 4. The reopening of pubs and bars specifically comes into force at 6am.’

He added: ‘That would just be in the event anybody would attempt to try to open at midnight.’

Typical licensing conditions will still apply, so pubs can only open at the time they normally have permission for.

Laws limiting indoor gatherings to two households and outdoor gatherings to six people have now been revoked – although Government guidance still advises these are wise precautions.

The 30-person limit would prevent mass gatherings, Number 10 said.

The PM’s spokesman added: ‘The reason for setting the figure for 30 is we do have to put a number into law and that is to provide police with the powers that they need to break up a rave or some other large gathering which is clearly irresponsible and in breach of the social distancing rules.’

Staff at BrewDog Tower Hill last night prepared to reopen tomorrow with social distancing measures in place

Staff at BrewDog Tower Hill last night prepared to reopen tomorrow with social distancing measures in place

Barman Michael Fitzsimons wears PPE while pouring a pint behind a protective shield at the bar, during final preparations at The Faltering Fullback pub in North London, ahead of its reopening

Barman Michael Fitzsimons wears PPE while pouring a pint behind a protective shield at the bar, during final preparations at The Faltering Fullback pub in North London, ahead of its reopening

Pubs, restaurants, cinemas and some other venues or organised events are exempt from the 30-person limit as long as sufficient measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

Nothing in the law prohibits games of football or cricket outside.

But officials have urged people to continue following social-distancing measures if they are to take part in team sports.

The latest laws also allow Mr Hancock to order the closure of any public outdoor space, like parks, if there is a ‘serious and imminent threat to public health’.

Fines could still be imposed for those deemed to be flouting the rules and police officers still have the power to disperse large groups.

The rules must be reviewed again before the end of the month.

Separate regulations to enforce the continued lockdown in Leicester were published on Friday.

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