Pubs and bars across England can reopen their doors from 6am on Saturday as lockdown rules ease, Downing Street has said.
New coronavirus guidelines will prevent pubs and bars rushing to serve pints immediately after midnight, with reopening banned until 6am on Saturday.
A spokesman said on Friday: “The reopening of pubs and bars specifically comes into force at 6am."
It comes as the country gears up for lockdown restrictions to be relaxed on what has been daubed "Super Saturday".
Downing Street has said the coronavirus regulations will not limit the amount of time people can spend in pubs and restaurants.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It’s not part of the regulations, as I understand it.
“Pubs, and restaurants in particular, as I’m sure lots of us will know, do sometimes put limits on the amount of time you can have a table for, for example.”
Health protection regulations were signed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning and will be laid before Parliament and published later today, No 10 said.
“What they do is put in place the 30-person limit on gatherings in private dwellings and outdoor spaces where not in a Covid 19-secure environment," said the PM's spokesperson.
“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.
“Those regulations mostly come into force at 12.01am on Saturday July 4."
Brits are being warned "not to overdo it" when pubs and restaurants reopen in England, with Boris Johnson urging Brits not to "blow it" when the rules are eased.
The Prime Minister told the Evening Standard that he would not hesitate to lock down London again if Covid-19 cases spike following the reopening.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford warned people against crossing the border to England over the weekend to go to pubs.
“I certainly do say to people who are thinking of going across the border, that the five-mile advice, the stay local regulations, remain in place in Wales this weekend,” Mr Drakeford said.
“So while there are populations very closed to the border who may choose to travel, for most of us that will not be a possibility.”
He added: “So please, wherever you are in Wales, this weekend is not a reason or an excuse to abandon all the things that you have worked so hard to achieve."
