Friends embrace 'Super Saturday' as pubs and bars reopen

5 July 2020

Pubs, cafes, restaurants and cinemas in England have opened their doors to customers for the first time in three months.

We asked six young photographers to document what an evening out looked like.

Ceri Oakes - Whitby, Yorkshire

The seaside town and port situated on the east coast of Yorkshire is perhaps best known for its strong literary associations - particularly Bram Stoker's Gothic novel Dracula - and the dramatic abbey ruins on the headland overlooking the town.

News image — The Moon and Sixpence, a harbour-side bar, offers views of the historic town. But its popular window seats have been removed to meet social distancing measures.

Ceri Oakes/BBC The Moon and Sixpence, Whitby. 4 July 2020 — The Moon and Sixpence, a harbour-side bar, offers views of the historic town. But its popular window seats have been removed to meet social distancing measures.

Ceri Oakes/BBC Lex Atkinson, manager at The Moon and Sixpence, Whitby. 4 July 2020 — Manager Lex Atkinson takes the details of all customers as they come to enjoy an evening out. The bar is offering table service only, and a booking system is in place, with customers limited to a two-hour slot.

Ceri Oakes/BBC Lex Atkinson serves customers at The Moon and Sixpence, Whitby. 4 July 2020 — These friends who travelled to Whitby from nearby Darlington say they are happy to see bars opening again as it is time to kick-start the economy. They say not seeing their friends is the thing they have missed most over the past three months.

Ceri Oakes/BBC Emma Morley and Lee Clarke from Peterborough, drinking at The Moon and Sixpence, Whitby. 4 July 2020 — Emma Morley and Lee Clarke from Peterborough both work for the NHS, and say they have had a hectic three months. Because of their work, they have been around people throughout the lockdown. "It doesn't really feel any different for us [being out again], we're not having to step out of our comfort zone," says Emma.

Ceri Oakes/BBC A member of staff telling people the bar is full at The Moon and Sixpence, Whitby — Lex Atkinson admits that a night out at the bar "looks so different to how it did before". She says the reduced capacity will allow them to ease themselves back in gently after three months off. "It means we've got time to enforce the new stricter cleaning procedures such as wiping down till points and menus between every customer with antibacterial spray," she says.

Bex Wade - Soho, London

The weekend marks the end of Pride events in the UK. Covid-19 meant that celebrating LGBT+ rights looked a little different this year with many of the events held virtually.

Bex Wade/BBC Track and trace app being used at GAY, Soho, London. 4 July 2020 — "We have installed screens between each table, there are sanitiser units around the building and everything is socially distanced," says Jeremy Joseph, owner of G-A-Y. Capacity inside the club has been cut. People give their details before entering, and these are held for 21 days to tie in with the NHS track and trace system.

Bex Wade/BBC A group of friends drink at GAY, Soho, London. 4 July 2020 — "To be honest I wouldn't normally be inside a bar but I did miss Pride generally," says Evan, a 32 year old actor (pictured right). He says the atmosphere on Old Compton Street has been "amazing". "This feels the closest to Pride that we could have," he says.

Bex Wade/BBC People, separated by plastic screens, drink and chat at GAY, Soho, London. 4 July 2020 — Tommy is 25 and also an actor. He says he feels safe with the precautions the bar had in place. "They've put up lots of barriers, so it's a one-way system. There's lots of perspex so that germs can't be spread." He's not so sure about the new rules of having to sit in a booth. "You can't get up and dance," he says.

Bex Wade/BBC People gather outside G-A-Y, Old Compton Street, Soho, London. 4 July 2020 — Michael, a 22-year-old receptionist, (pictured left) was disappointed events had been affected by the lockdown. "It's one of the days of the year that I like to go out and express myself. But it's OK because today it does feel festive - everyone's out and about, and it feels a bit like Pride today."

Sophie Wedgwood - Peckham, London

One of London's coolest neighbourhoods, Peckham is filled with a variety of bars, restaurants and unique street art.

Sophie Wedgwood/BBC Gilda Bruno puts on makeup as she gets ready for an evening out — Gilda Bruno is a 22 Italian living in London. "I moved here just before lockdown began. I was ready to explore a new city, meet new people and see what the city had to offer me. Then all of a sudden this happened.

Sophie Wedgwood/BBC Gilda Bruno gets ready for an evening out — "Now things are going to get better. I'm going to try to make the most of my stay in London and connect with like-minded people and also the nightlife. It hasn't been possible for the last few months."

Sophie Wedgwood/BBC Gilda Bruno looks in a mirror as she leaves her home for an evening out — "It's definitely going to be a challenging experience, because in the past few years I have experienced a lot of social anxiety. I never really enjoyed being in big crowds, so having to face that experience again after a few months when I only interacted with my two flat mates is going to be a struggle."

Sophie Wedgwood/BBC Gilda Bruno enjoys an evening out — "Maybe people are going to be just as clumsy as me socially - especially after being inside for so long. I'm not really worried about the restrictions in place in the bars. It might make the focus more on being around people, conversation and quality time rather than just drinking."

Joanne Coates - Northumberland

Situated in the northern part of the county close to the Scottish border and often referred to as the "Gateway to the Cheviots", the small town of Wooler is a popular base for walkers. It has many attractive stone-built watering holes dotted around the town.