Independence Day

Brits went barmy on their own version of Independence Day by necking pints in pubs, eating fry-ups, having haircuts – and getting married.

- Stephen Hayward

Thirsty drinkers queued from 6 am as boozers opened up when the dawn of July 4 brought a 104-day lockdown dry spell to an end.

Experts estimated around 15 million pints were drunk yesterday, the same kind of spike seen when England are in the World Cup.

They forecast takings of £210million – some £60million more than a typical pre-lockdown weekend – even though many pubs weren’t even open on a wet and blustery day.

The Campaign for Real Ale said around half of England’s 37,500 boozers had decided opening was just not viable under strict social-distancing rules.

In Birmingham, customers queued patiently outside the Briar Rose. Fire protection installers Ben Clark, 33, Curtis Birch, 22, and Connor Cowen, 22, were first in line.