Customers have told of their joy as a popular Nottinghamshire Wetherspoons reopened this morning, following the latest easing of lockdown restrictions.
For the first time in several months, people from across Nottinghamshire are able to eat and drink inside venues, hug family and friends and take a trip overseas.
Regulars of The Ernehale in Arnold flooded in at 8am today (Monday, May 17) to grab their first indoor 'Spoons breakfast since November.
Sara Patterson, 41, cleaner, from Arnold, having breakfast with a friend.
Asked how she feels about being back, Sara said: “I love it. It has been a long time coming and it is nice to be back.
"It is a nice pub. It is nice to have a bit of excitement in our lives again. I feel safe too.”
Retired David Chadburn, 75, of Arnold, has been a regular at The Ernehale for 20 years.
He said: "I used to come in most mornings for a coffee, toast or whatever.
"And we know quite a few people who we've made friends with, have a bit of a chit chat in the morning, put the world to rights.
"What's it like to be back? Well, very good, I've missed it quite a bit.
"Seeing all the people that we used to see, although not everybody is back this morning, the first morning."
Unfortunately, a sad event brought Stephen, 58, and Ewa Ibbitt, 41, to The Ernehale from Liverpool this morning - the funeral of Stephen’s father.
But the couple said that being back in the pub brought welcome "normality" to their lives.
Stephen added: “I feel safe. It is another stage to reopening and going back to normality.”
Further easing of Covid-19 restrictions also go ahead today, in line with Stage 3 of the Government's roadmap.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged a "heavy dose of caution" be taken over the new rules, due to the threat of the Indian variant of Covid-19.
It comes as a number of businesses in the leisure industry will be reopening for the first time this year, including children's indoor play centres, museums, cinemas and casinos.
Changes in social mixing will also start today, with groups of up to 30 people able to meet outside.
The 'rule of six' or two households will now move indoors, which includes people's homes.
