Long queues have formed outside pubs in Manchester today with punters patiently waiting for their first pint in months.
Several pubs saw queues of up to 100 people outside with some saying they had been waiting for over three hours to enjoy a drink in the afternoon sunshine.
The latest stage of the easing of the national lockdown today has seen pubs, cafes' and restaurants in Greater Manchester able to re-open for the first time since last October, so long as customers are seated outside.
And many people have not waited around to go and out and enjoy a drink.
At popular student haunt The Friendship on Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield, more than 100 people are currently said to be waiting in line for a drink in the pub's beer garden, which has around 20 tables.
Mia and Anya, second-year students in Manchester., are among those waiting in line.
They said they were happy and couldn't wait for their first drink.
“It’s not been a great year," they said.
"We had a period in August where we could do stuff but that was the last time really.
"There wasn’t much to do.
"We’ve been quite safe not seeing many people so it’s been isolating.
"We live with a nurse and a care worker so we’ve been safe.”
Queues were also reported at a number of other popular establishments, including in the city centre.
People had been waiting outside The Courtyard, on Chester Street off Oxford Road, since 10am one punter said on social media sharing a picture of a queue stretch down the street.
Those at the front of the estimated 80-strong queue said they arrived around 10:30am but had still not yet been able to get a table.
Lorcan, Luke, Ethan, Cameron and Lauri said they hoped to get inside soon and that their plan for the rest of the day was to get "really hammered, hopefully."
Smaller queues were visible at other venues in Manchester city centre, such as at street Hatch.
However these were said to be moving quickly.
It follows long queues outside many high-street stores in the city centre and Greater Manchester towns this morning as they also threw open their doors for the first time since before Christmas.
Earlier Greater Manchester Police said in a light-hearted tweet: "We've received a number of reports of people reverting back to the old British pastime of queuing.
"I'm sure we don't need to remind you of the long-established unwritten rules of politeness and grumbling about the other queue moving faster than yours, but please remember the more current rule relating to social distancing and hygiene.
"Thank you."
