Across the country Britons are taking advantage of their last chance to go to the boozer (Picture: North News/Getty/Reuters)

Drinkers across the country are flocking to their local after the Prime Minister told bars, clubs, restaurants and other venues to close their doors to curb the spread of coronavirus.

At a Downing Street press conference Boris Johnson asked boozers to close ‘as soon as they reasonably can’ tonight and to not open up again tomorrow. In a plea to the public he said: ‘Some people may of course be tempted to go out tonight and I say to you please don’t.

You may think that you are invincible but there is no guarantee that you will get mild symptoms and you can still be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to others.’



But the ‘inalienable free-born right of people born in England to go to the pub’ Johnson spoke of clearly resonated with quite a few people who rushed straight to the bar after hearing the news.


Punters enjoy their last big night out for a while in Newcastle city centre (Picture: North News)

Pub goers enjoy a final evening at Spoons tonight (Picture: Getty Images)

Two women drink at a pub in London on the evening Boris Johnson made his announcement (Picture: Getty Images)

The PM asked people to stay at home but many in Newcastle headed straight out (Pictur: North News)

Many pubs have already taken a big hit but this one had plenty of punters on the ‘last night of freedom’ (Picture: Getty Images)

One Twitter user wrote: ‘The last night of freedom is upon us, gutted heartbroken and disappointed are just 3 words to describe how I’m feeling, let’s get wrecked for one last time tonight.”

Another said: ‘I’m guessing everyone has found a pub to spend their last night of freedom then.’

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Others took a dim view of people having one last night out on the town, calling them ‘selfish morons’ who are putting more people at risk of infection.

One Twitter user wrote: ‘Really infuriating seeing people go out at the moment as if going to the pub or for food is a priority.

‘Please just stay at home and stop putting yourself and others at risk and look at the bigger picture and realise this is only making things worse.’

Earlier today Chancellor Rishi Sunak vowed to cover 80% of workers’ wages for firms who have been hit hard by social distancing measures introduced by the Government.

The move will reassure many business owners in the hospitality industry who faced an existential threat from the sudden drop in footfall.

People wearing masks at a bar in Quayside as the spread of coronavirus continues (Picture: Reuters)

A walks into the Churchill pub in Kensington, London on the last day of open pubs (Picture: AP)

It could be some time before you’re at your local JD Wetherspoon again (Picture: Getty Images)

A man drinks in the BrewDog pub in Cowgate, Edinburgh on the day of Johnson’s unprecedented announcement (Picture: Getty Images)

Announce pub closures at 5pm on a Friday night. Hence thousands of people heading straight to the pub for their last night in the pub!?!?!?

What a time to announce it ffs. They’ve had all week to do this #Covid_19 — Lewis Wyatt (@hurricane_wyatt) March 20, 2020

if I see one more ‘last night in the pub/having dinner with the girls/after work drinks’ post I am going to implode #coronavirusuk #lockdownuk #Covid_19 — Pheebðâï¸ (@phoebee_b) March 20, 2020

that was the one wrong thing about closing them “tonight” should have said “from now”. some folk are going to make the most of that last night in the pub. Lets just hope the ones they are standing next too are not ‘carriers’ — SueCr ð¯ð§¡ð¤ (@1280sue) March 20, 2020

Last night in my pub, emotional times but messy times too ð» so long pal ðð¼ — Beck Garner (@beckgarner) March 20, 2020

Venues shut to the public will still be able to offer takeaway delivery services.

When asked by reporters how the ban would be enforced, Johnson said: ‘Clearly there are licensing arrangements which will make it relatively simple to do should that really be necessary.’

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