The UK was determined to continue partying despite warnings (Picture: SWNS)

Revellers across England ignored advice to avoid pubs and clubs for the next few weeks as coronavirus spreads by partying into the early hours.

People were spotted drinking and dancing at St Patrick’s Day events in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton on Tuesday night despite warnings to stay indoors and isolate to stop the spread.

Pubs have had no choice but to stay open after the prime minister ‘advised’ people to stay away but stopped short of enforcing a ban that owners said would allow them to claim insurance. Yesterday, chancellor Rishi Sunak promised businesses that they will be provided with billions of pounds to bail them out during the coronavirus pandemic – but many venues continued to open doors to customers flouting social distancing rules.



In one video circulating on social media, people clutching drinks are heard singing ‘f*** coronavirus’ to the tune of The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army. In another, a girl wearing a Guinness hat dances, with the video caption reading: ‘Corona?????’.


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People celebrate St Patrick’s day at Seamus O’Donnells in Bristol (Picture: SWNS)

In Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping centre, the city’s main New Street station concourse was quieter at lunchtime, as were many of the bars and diners.

Inside the station there were Government information signs, telling people to ‘isolate yourself, stay at home’, if they had a high temperature or a new continuous cough, even a mild one.

But the public health alert did not discourage a stag party, whose groom-to-be was dressed as a leprechaun.

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Despite assurances from the chancellor, hospitality firms have warned British pubs will go under in a matter of weeks without more help.

The British Beer and Pub Association said Mr Sunak’s announcements did not go far enough.

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Ireland has banned people going to pubs but the UK has not yet made that move (Picture: SWNS)

As part of a package of measures, he said he would give every single retail and entertainment venue – no matter what their size – one year off paying business rates. And he said the 700,000 smallest businesses, who do not pay rates, would get £10,000 in cash.

He guaranteed that contracts would be honoured by insurance companies after it was suggested insurance firms might not compensate adequately protected pubs and restaurants for their losses.

Mr Sunak said the intervention would help not just pubs and restaurants but shops, music venues and theatres. Separately, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced changes to planning rules to allow struggling restaurants and bars to operate as takeaways.

British Beer and Pub Association boss Emma McClarkin said the Government must implement pub-specific measures within 24 hours to prevent ‘irreversible closures and job losses’.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak with Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street as he announced new measures to support businesses (Picture: PA)

She said: ‘We recognise as a sector that we are in unprecedented times and are prepared to play our part, but whilst we welcome the measures outlined today, they do not deal with the immediate cash flow and liquidity problems our industry faces.’

The plans, announced in Downing Street yesterday, involve an ‘unprecedented’ £300 billion of government-backed loans, equivalent to 15% of GDP, available from next week.



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