Hucknall and Bulwell people can soon eat, drink and hug inside again

And businesses from restaurants to children’s play centres across are counting down the days until they can welcome customers back inside again.

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the third stage of his lockdown easing roadmap would go ahead as planned from Monday, May 17.

That means that from that date, indoor hospitality can resume with pubs and restaurants able to welcome groups of up to six to sit down and eat and drink inside again.

Not only that, businesses like hotels, cinemas, theatres and children’s play centres can also re-open, events such as weddings and funerals can have up to 30 guests attending again and indoor mixing is allowed in houses again with up to six people or two households getting together again.

Laura Hollis, supervisor, at the Station Hotel in Hucknall said: “It’s been good since we re-opened last month and it’s been pretty full here each weekend.

“We’re really looking forward to opening up inside again, I think everyone is, and we want to get people back inside now.”

A similar sentiment was shared by the Griffin’s Head in Papplewick, which posted on it’s Facebook page on Monday: “We're now just one week from being able to open the rest of our pub, we can't wait to welcome you back inside.”

Likewise, children’s play centre Squiggles Playden in Hucknall was also excited about being able to open it’s doors again as it tweeted: “After being closed for 365 days of the past 14 months, we're thrilled to be finally opening our doors once again from Monday, May 17.

"We can't wait to welcome you all back.”

Bulwell’s Ken Martin Leisure Centre confirmed on its website that group activities, including fitness classes and adult swimming and tennis lessons will also be resuming.

And Dave Brissett, manager at the Limekiln in Bulwell, said: “We’re really looking forward to getting people back inside again, it will feel like we’re back.

"We’ve had people message us on Facebook saying when the restaurant is re-opening, they’ll be back so we’re looking forward to seeing them again.”