It's thirsty work, all this gift buying! Shoppers let off steam as the takeaway pint returns to London after capital was plunged into Tier 3 Covid lockdown
Shoppers have been photographed letting off steam with takeaway pints in central London after the capital was plunged into Tier 3 coronavirus lockdown earlier this week.
The retail bonanza was too much for some, who headed to the local for a takeaway pint - newly returned to the capital since sitting inside pubs was banned under the strictest rules.
People queued around the block for luxury handbags today in London's West End as shops prepared for a £5.2billion four-day spending frenzy starting tomorrow.
Pictures taken on Carnaby Street showed a couple surrounded by shopping bags as they sat on a doorstep to enjoy a couple of takeaway beers. A woman was photographed carrying a number of shopping bags as she left a Greene King pub with a pint.
On Sunday, Matt Hancock plunged around 10million people in the South East into a Tier 3 shutdown with just 30 hours' notice - as he warned a new strain of coronavirus could be driving a surge in cases.
The Health Secretary told the Commons that the tough new rules would come into effect in London just after midnight on Wednesday morning, sparking fury that he was sending thousands of businesses to the wall.
Under the new Tier 3 rules, only businesses offering takeaway and delivery will be allowed to remain open. Restrictions are supposed to be eased to allow up to three households to meet for five days over the festive period, but pubs in Tier 3 will have to remain closed even then.
A woman was photographed carrying a number of shopping bags as she left a Greene King pub with a pint as non-essential shops remained open even under the tougher rules today
Two shoppers enjoying a takeaway drink outside a pub on Carnaby Street. Hospitality are banned from allowing people to sit inside under Tier Three rules
People enjoyed takeway drinks after a day of shopping in central London today, days after the capital was plunged into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions
The retail bonanza was too much for some, who headed to the local for a takeaway pint - newly retuned to the capital since sitting inside pubs was banned under the strictest rules
Pubs in Tier 2 areas will be able to open under the band's restrictions over the Christmas period. But as households are only allowed to mix with people from other bubbles in the home over the five day period, it will make reopening unviable for many pubs, bars and restaurants.
Punters packed into bars from Tuesday morning to enjoy one last drink, albeit with a substantial meal, before Tier 3 closed venues for the foreseeable future, and there have been warnings that the move into Tier 3 will wipe off £2.7bn from London's hospital industry as pubs, bars and restaurants are forced to close during the busy festive period.
Campaign for Pubs spokesperson, Greg Mulholland, slammed the Government for announcing the decision less than two weeks before Christmas.
A woman carrying a drink leaves a pub on Carnaby Street in London's West End, where shoppers were making Christmas purchases
People walked along the street or stood outside the pub as they enjoyed their beers in plastic pint cups. Pubs and restaurants were closed to dine-in customers on Wednesday
A woman held a half-finished beer as she walked along Carnaby Street in central London earlier today. Punters packed into bars from Tuesday morning to enjoy one last drink, albeit with a substantial meal, before Tier 3 closed venues for the foreseeable future
Pictures taken on Bond Street today showed thousands of shoppers rushing to make their final Christmas purchases - including dozens waiting patiently outside luxury designer Hermes
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Mr Mulholland said the announcement was a 'shocking way to treat publicans and their families' and warned it would force many businesses to the brink. The campaign manager and former MP said: 'It's devastating news for pubs and publicans in London and the home counties. To move into Tier 3 just a few weeks after opening again to get some restricted trade, and then this just a few weeks before Christmas.
One London restaurant owner revealed the move into Tier 3 had already cost him £42,000 in lost bookings, in addition to a week's worth of wasted stock. While other pub owners had to pour any beer left undrunk down the drain.
Industry insiders called for an urgent support package for the hospitality sector to help businesses survive into the New Year.
Meanwhile, the beleaguered British High Street continues to struggle despite the Christmas rush, with footfall falling by 1.6 per cent on last week and 40 per cent on last year, according to the latest figures from Springboard.
On Bond Street photographs showed crowds of shoppers rushing to make their Christmas purchases - including dozens waiting patiently outside luxury designer Hermes.
Londoners enjoy a beverage outside a bar in Covent Garden. All areas in the country have seen visitors fall on last week and last year, with London's dropping by 4.4 per cent and 64.8 per cent respectively
A couple laughed as they held their beers aloft while enjoying a drink next to a snow machine in Covent Garden despite strict lockdown restrictions
Non-essential shops remain open even under the tougher rules, meaning the high street should be able to capitalise on some of the spending splurge even if much will go online.
However, the West End crowds were far sparser than normal for the festive season, as many people stayed away due to the pandemic.
All areas in the country have seen visitors fall on last week and last year, with London's dropping by 4.4 per cent and 64.8 per cent respectively.
On what has been dubbed 'frenzied Friday' Britons are estimated to spend £1.55billion - £1.1billion in store and £450million online - a 19 per cent surge on 2019.
Trading is expected to peak for December on 'super Saturday' as 11.5million descend on the beleaguered High Street.
Footfall is predicted to leap by 12 per cent compared to last year but the total spent is expected to be 3 per cent less than in 2019.
London is expected to lead the charge for money spent, racking up a total of £504million on Friday and Saturday, closely followed by the South East spending £485million.
Sunday is also expected to see a huge amount of money exchange hands - £850million by 8.5million shoppers - but it is down eight per cent on last year.
On Monday, with just four days until December 25, the High Street is expected to welcome 11million customers spending a total of £1.3billion, which represents a 0.8 per cent rise on 2019.
Retail stores and supermarkets are expected to be especially busy this year due to most online retailers no longer being able to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas.
Lifestyle Editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk Anita Naik said: 'The last full week before Christmas is always a busy period for retailers both offline and online.
'After a difficult year for the high street, it's encouraging to see spend is predicted to hit £2.5m in-store every minute.'