Yahoo Finance Dancing in the streets: Londoners enjoy first Saturday night out since lockdown easing
People singing and dancing in the street in central London
(REUTERS)Londoners were quite literally dancing in the streets on Saturday night as they celebrated lockdown easing.
Thousands of people descended on central London to enjoy al-fresco dining and drinks in beer gardens and terraces.
Videos posted to social media show spontaneous bouts of clapping and dancing in the streets.
One clip uploaded to Instagram showed a band walking through streets and playing music as smiling drinkers clapped and waved.
Even a policeman joined in the fun and was photographed dancing with revellers in Soho.
On Twitter user wrote: “Wandered back through Soho as they were cleaning up. People seemed happy - literally dancing in the streets.”
There was an increased police presence as officers patrolled busy areas of the city to make sure social distancing guidelines were being adhered to.
It comes after scuffles broke out after tensions flared when police arrested a man in Old Crompton Street on Friday night.
Wandered back through Soho as they were cleaning up. People seemed happy - literally dancing in the streets. https://t.co/Db8ENEX5i2 pic.twitter.com/BUPdzj9a90
— dan barker (@danbarker) April 17, 2021
The Metropolitan Police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors said she is eager to avoid any more trouble this weekend.
She said: “The Met is ready to welcome back people to the streets of London.
“We will be stepping up our patrols to busy high footfall areas, to look out for everyone’s safety and to disrupt any criminal activity.
“Of course, where we need to take action against those who dangerously flout the rules we will do.
“While the case rate has declined in London, we have seen the concerning position in northern Europe.
“It is important that we all stick to the rules so further lockdowns, or restrictions, are avoided.”
Restrictions were eased on April 12, allowing people in England to visit hairdressers, non-essential shops, beer gardens and outdoor restaurants.
Under the current rules, people are only allowed to meet six other people from different households outside.
Excited punters are expected to splurge £300 million in London this weekend as shops, restaurants and bars open their doors for the first time since December.
The Centre for Retail Research said it expected retail and hospitality spending across London to reach close to £170 million on Saturday and around £130 million on Sunday with much of that spent in the previously deserted West End.
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