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The owner of Parlez, a pub and restaurant in south London, hoped that sales this Christmas would have bounced back fully from last winter's Covid-19 lockdown. Instead, every one of this week's group reservations canceled their bookings.
Although venues are still open, trade is slowing ahead of the key peak festive period as people stay home and avoid socializing in pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Health experts and business chiefs warned the ten-day isolation rule was 'lockdown by stealth' - keeping people at home even when their symptoms and infectiousness had eased.
Pictures from Leeds, London and Newcastle showed just a smattering of revellers enjoying festive nights out yesterday, just a day before Black Eye Friday.
A health expert and business leader suggested pressures could be eased by revisiting rules that require everyone who tests positive to isolate for 10 days.