The lifting of lockdown restrictions to allow people in England to use pub beer gardens and dine in the outdoor areas of restaurants is being met by snowfall, as a spring cold snap hits.
The inclement weather will come as a blow to thousands of businesses that were hoping to welcome back customers on Monday after months of restrictions.
Met Office forecasters said southern England and much of Wales could expect outbreaks of rain, sleet and some snow, although this was predicted to clear through the morning, leaving sunny intervals and scattered showers.
Elsewhere in the UK, people were told to expect sunny periods and isolated wintry showers. The Met Office said temperatures were not expected to rise beyond single figures celsius.
The new week's starting rather wintry across southern England and parts of Wales with some snow, which is giving a temporary covering in places. Meanwhile the dry, clear weather further north is giving a locally severe frost pic.twitter.com/50J82ClEGc
— Met Office (@metoffice) April 12, 2021
Non-essential shops, hairdressers, indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoos in England are also opening for the first time this year.
A number of pubs with 24-hour licences opened as soon as they were allowed. The Kentish Belle in south-east London opened at one minute past midnight on Monday until 3am. In Newcastle, the Switch bar and the Bank did the same, despite temperatures dropping below freezing.
Hundreds of people dressed in hats and winter coats queued outside the world’s biggest Primark store in Birmingham, which reopened its doors at approximately 6.30am.
Customers at the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Kent, thought to be the largest pub in the UK, cheered as the first pints were served.
Nicky Maxey, a spokesperson for the Met Office, said of the temperature: “We’re going to struggle to get into double figures anywhere really ... quite widely across the country there will be single figures. We’re going to start seeing temperatures recover during the week but they are still going to be below average.”
She added that a chilly night was expected again on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures forecast widely, especially in more isolated areas.
(March 8, 2021) Step 1, part 1
In effect from 8 March, all pupils and college students returned fully. Care home residents can receive one regular, named visitor.
(March 29, 2021) Step 1, part 2
In effect from 29 March, outdoor gatherings allowed of up to six people, or two households if this is larger, not just in parks but also gardens. Outdoor sport for children and adults allowed. The official stay at home order ends, but people will be encouraged to stay local. People will still be asked to work from home where possible, with no overseas travel allowed beyond the current small number of exceptions.
(April 12, 2021) Step 2
In effect from 12 April, non-essential retail, hair and nail salons, and some public buildings such as libraries and commercial art galleries can reopen. Most outdoor venues can open, including pubs and restaurants, but only for outdoor tables and beer gardens. Customers will have to be seated but there will be no need to have a meal with alcohol.
Also reopening are settings such as zoos and theme parks. However, social contact rules will still apply here, so no indoor mixing between households and limits on outdoor mixing. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and pools can also open, but again people can only go alone or with their own household. Reopening of holiday lets with no shared facilities is also allowed, but only for one household. Funerals can have up to 30 attendees, while weddings, receptions and wakes can have 15.
(May 17, 2021) Step 3
Again with the caveat "no earlier than 17 May", depending on data, vaccination levels and current transmission rates.
Step 3 entails that most mixing rules are lifted outdoors, with a limit of 30 people meeting in parks or gardens. Indoor mixing will be allowed, up to six people or, if it is more people, two households. Indoor venues such as the inside of pubs and restaurants, hotels and B&Bs, play centres, cinemas and group exercise classes will reopen. The new indoor and outdoor mixing limits will remain for pubs and other hospitality venues.
For sport, indoor venues can have up to 1,000 spectators or half capacity, whichever is lower; outdoors the limit will be 4,000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower. Very large outdoor seated venues, such as big football stadiums, where crowds can be spread out, will have a limit of 10,000 people, or a quarter full, whichever is fewer. Weddings will be allowed a limit of 30 people, with other events such as christenings and barmitzvahs also permitted.
This will be the earliest date at which international holidays could resume, subject to a separate review.
(June 21, 2021) Step 4
No earlier than 21 June, all legal limits will be removed on mixing, and the last sectors to remain closed, such as nightclubs, will reopen. Large events can take place.
Peter Walker Political correspondent
Boris Johnson said people should enjoy the new freedoms but remain wary of the risks. In a message hailing the latest stage of lockdown lifting, the prime minister said: “Today is a major step forward in our roadmap to freedom as venues such as shops, hairdressers, nail salons, outdoor attractions, and pubs and restaurants open once again,” he said.
“I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.”
Johnson also stressed the need for “fresh air” as a key Covid-19 prevention measure, alongside the familiar messages of handwashing, social distancing and mask-wearing.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme,” he said.
After a cold April weekend, during which many areas experienced a light dusting of snow, temperatures of between 0C (32F) and -2C were expected in the early hours of the morning across the UK. Heavy rain and hill snow was also forecast for Northern Ireland and west Wales on Monday morning.
The Met Office said rain showers would move south-eastwards throughout the day, hitting the Midlands by mid-morning and reaching the south coast by the afternoon and into the evening.
No flood warnings were in place on Sunday night, but the Environment Agency issued six lower-level alerts for scattered locations in south-west England where flooding was possible.
Meanwhile, people in northern England and Scotland can expect to see a cold but sunny and dry start to the week.
Average midday temperatures range from 6C in the Scottish isles to 12C in Cornwall, with 10C forecast for London and 7C in Manchester.
A chilly night was expected to follow on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures forecast across the UK. The rest of the week was likely to be cold but dry, the Met Office said.
