Silent Night! City centres across the UK are abandoned on Christmas Eve amid Omicron fears 

It’s usually one of the busiest nights of the year – and which traditionally leaves revellers with very soar heads on Christmas morning. 

But this Christmas Eve, cities across the country were left practically deserted as party goers stayed at home – or were locked up in self-isolation – amid the surge of the Omicron Covid variant.

While small groups of youngsters were seen braving the wet and windy conditions on Friday night, much of Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and elsewhere were left resembling ghost towns.

Many pubs and clubs did not bother to open due to the drop in demand, while scores of empty tables and chairs were pictured on terraces of bars and restaurants. 

It was a situation repeated across the country in what is expected to be another huge loss for the hospitality industry. 

In Leeds, the typically packed Bar Fibre in the city centre was seen with no queue outside, while In Manchester, photos showed party hotspots around the Northern Quarter and the Printworks were left eerily empty.

Rows of tables and chairs lay empty at Manahatta in Leeds city centre 

A reveller poses for the camera in a green Santa-inspired dress in Leeds, amid a backdrop of empty streets

Queen’s Court and Bar Fibre in Leeds appeared to have no queues outside on what is typically one of the busiest nights of the festive season

The lack of punters will be seen as yet another blow for the hospitality industry (Pictured: Queens Court, Leeds)

Groups of – mostly – youngsters braved the wet and windy conditions to celebrate Xmas Eve in Leeds

Even a 2-4-1 cocktails offer could not bring in the crowds in Leeds city centre

Group of friends smile for the camera in a very quiet street in Leeds city centre

Scores of tables and chairs remained empty in scenes repeated across the country

A couple stagger across the road in Leeds city centre on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve revellers in Newcastle this evening, where a handful of drinkers enjoyed a final night out

Reveller in Santa hat appears to have a heated discussion with a bouncer in Leeds city centre

Mostly young people decided to paint the town red in Leeds on Christmas Eve

It follows weeks of cancellations after England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty advised people to cut social interactions in the run up to the holidays.

Restaurants were hit particularly hard, as profitable office parties and dos were called off.  

While bars and nightclubs have been allowed to remain open, people have decided to stay away to avoid catching Covid and being made to isolate for Christmas. 

It comes as hospital admissions for coronavirus in London – Britain’s Omicron ground zero – are within touching distance of the Government’s threshold of 400 for introducing lockdown restrictions across the country. 

Latest NHS data shows there were 386 new admissions for the virus in the capital on December 22, marking a 92 per cent rise on the figure last week. 

Further restrictions could be imposed just in time for New Year’s Eve as Boris Johnson is set to review the latest figures on Monday.