Recap updates as lockdown was eased again in Portsmouth

Jojo Cheung, 47, the owner of Crumblejack Cafe said: 'We've had our regulars come in who don't usually come in on Mondays, just to support us which is really nice.

'Generally it hasn't been as busy because customers need to get used to coming in again. It's a bit like starting a new business again.'

‘We’re celebrating Christmas,’ said Michael Coombes, from Whiteley, as he and his 69-year-old mother from Norfolk enjoy a drink inside at The Old Customs House in Gunwharf Quays.

Michael was due to visit his mother over the festive period five months ago, but his plan was cancelled at the last minute by the national lockdown.

He said: ‘We haven’t seen each other in six months. It’s been great to give each other our Christmas presents in person - I got Mum some whiskey.’ Pat Coombes said: ‘We’ve got another pub planned. We’re going to make the most of my visit.’

Sean Muns, general manager of The Kings on Albert Road, said: ‘It’s good to have the option to have people inside.

‘Before when people were outside there was less face to face interaction so now it’s good because you can speak to more people.

‘The novelty of drinking outside wore off after a crazy first couple of weeks back when the weather was good. People then seemed to decide to wait until the inside was open again before coming back.

‘It’s nice to have the hustle and bustle back down the road as other places were shut until today.’

Punter Kate Thatcher, who owns nearby shop Southscene, had to move inside the Kings after enjoying a drink outside when there was a sudden downpour. ‘It’s nice to have the option to come inside. Before we would have gone home,’ she said.

‘It’s nice drinking outside when the weather is good but not when the weather is bad. And it hasn’t been good recently.’

James Wilson, general manager at The Vaults in Albert Road, said they had only opened today after deciding it was not worth it before due to the limited seating outside. ‘As soon as we open it starts chucking it down so it’s just as well we are allowed inside,’ he said.

‘People are ringing up and booking to come in for lunchtime beers.

‘A lot of our regulars are looking forward to coming back. People are hungry for the pub experience and to see family and friends again.

‘I think we will bounce back.’

Southsea friends Ian Jones, Martin Hudson and Rupert Ronca said it ‘felt great to be back in the pub’.

‘It’s good to have people around you and try proper beers in a glass that you would not normally be able to drink,’ they said.

‘A lot of pubs have been shut so it’s good to see them open again.’

A cabin crew member who spent part of her furlough helping out at a vaccination centre said it was ‘absolutely lovely’ to be working again on the first day of the Government’s easing of foreign travel restrictions.

Kim Mariani, 42, from Portsmouth, was among the team serving customers on board a TUI flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to the Portuguese island of Madeira – a green-list destination.

Passengers burst into applause as the plane touched down on Monday morning.

It marked Ms Mariani’s first flight back at work since January when her second period of furlough in the past year had begun.

She said: ‘This is such a social job, we fly with different people every day, chatting to passengers.

‘So it’s so nice to be back and it’s so nice to take people on holidays. Holidays are so important to people to spend time with their family and relax.’

Ms Mariani, who has nearly 20 years of flight experience, said many cabin crew colleagues had volunteered at Covid vaccination centres, with some even administering jabs.

She said furlough had been ‘strange’, adding: ‘We’ve been one of the last businesses to get back so it’s been really hard.

‘One of the hardest bits is seeing everyone else get back to normal whereas you’re not.’

Southsea couple Leo and Trish Muir have been enjoying their first meal inside a restaurant since lockdown restrictions came in to force last December - and a parenting first with their 7-month old girl.

Trish said: ‘It’s the first time we have had a nappy change outdoors. She loved it. No disasters - thankfully.’

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