Venues were only allowed to serve people outdoors, limiting the number of possible bookings. Under the government’s four-step plan out of lockdown, all hospitality venues should be able to reopen indoors from 17 May. As non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, theme parks, zoos and campsites also opened again from Monday, many more people hit the road. The number of cars on the streets on Monday was at 91% of the level since in the first week of February 2020, the highest level since November, according to figures from the Department for Transport. Data from searches of online grocery retailer Ocado’s website released on Thursday suggests that demand for snacks, canapés and alcoholic drinks associated with alfresco socialising in gardens and public spaces has also grown markedly in the past month as England’s lockdown began to ease.