As England moved into stage three of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, people were quick to embrace their newly-found freedoms, starting with the pub.

Up until midnight, customers reamined in beer gardens or street terraces but as Sunday turned into Monday, they were welcomed back inside by staff to enjoy relaxed lockdown rules.

Boris Johnson confirmed on Friday that the roadmap will go ahead as planned today despite concerns over the Indian variant which has thrown a complete end to restrictions on June 21 into doubt. 

The Prime Minister called for a “heavy dose of caution” as indoor socialising and physical contact resumed.

Meanwhile, airport activity stepped up as travel restrictions loosened while the London Eye back in rotation and the BT Tower all lit up again.

Customers at the Showtime Bar in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire take advantage of the early hours of restored freedoms (Danny Lawson/PA)Customers at the Showtime Bar in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, take advantage of the early hours of restored freedoms (Danny Lawson/PA)
Hugging and drinking indoors have been among the activities subject to strict conditions during lockdown (Jacob King/PA)Hugging and drinking indoors have been among the activities previously subject to strict conditions during lockdown (Jacob King/PA)
Left to right Rebecca Mitchell, Rosie Delaney and Isobel Logan enter the Showtime Bar just after midnight in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)(Left to right) Rebecca Mitchell, Rosie Delaney and Isobel Logan enter the Showtime Bar just after midnight in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)
A man carries a tray of drinks to a table at the The Oak Inn in Coventry (Jacob King/PA)A man carries a tray of drinks to a table at the The Oak Inn in Coventry (Jacob King/PA)
Coronavirus – Mon May 17, 2021With only outdoor drinking permitted until May 17, some made a beeline for the jukebox with this customer opting for a track by The Prodigy (Jacob King/PA)
The pool table had also been dormant during the months when drinking had been an outdoors activity (Jacob King/PA)The pool table had also been dormant during the months when drinking had been an outdoors activity (Jacob King/PA)
Hugging in pubs is now legal again (Jacob Jing/PA)Hugging in pubs is now legal again (Jacob Jing/PA)
Customers enjoy their first drinks inside the Showtime Bar (Danny Lawson/PA)Customers enjoy their first drinks inside the Showtime Bar (Danny Lawson/PA)
Glasses are clinked as customers savour what they used to take for granted (Jacob King/PA)Glasses are clinked as customers savour what they used to take for granted (Jacob King/PA)

Hugging is another restriction to be relaxed under a new mantra with a provision that it should be sensible while there was increased activity at airports with travel rules being relaxed.

Pubs were not the only institutions to see a rekindling of activity with the London Eye once again turning while another London landmark, the BT Tower, signalled the latest step forward in the return to normality.

Travel hubs such as Gatwick Airport also saw an increase in activity with green-list countries now available for foreign leisure travel as the shackles of lockdown were cast off by travellers.

Sunny Jouhal, general manager of the lastminute.com London Eye, stands on top of a London Eye Pod, 135 meters high above the ground to celebrate the re-opening of the attraction (Matt Alexander/PA)Sunny Jouhal, general manager of the lastminute.com London Eye, stands on top of a London Eye Pod, 135 metres high above the ground to celebrate the re-opening of the attraction (Matt Alexander/PA)
A digital message, which reads “Less URL, more IRL. Welcome back.” is displayed on the BT Tower Infoband, 190 metres above the streets of London as BT marks the latest phase of the Government’s Covid-19 lockdown measures easing (Anthony Upton/PA)A digital message, which reads Less URL, More IRL Welcome Back is displayed on the BT Tower Infoband, 190 metres above the streets of London as BT marks the latest phase of the Government’s Covid-19 lockdown measures easing (Anthony Upton/PA)
Passengers check in for the first holiday and leisure flight to take-off at Gatwick Airport, as easyJet relaunches flights from the UK to green-list destinations (David Parry/PA)Passengers check in for the first holiday and leisure flight to take-off at Gatwick Airport, as easyJet relaunches flights from the UK to green-list destinations (David Parry/PA)