People across the county have raised a pint to the next step in the roadmap out of lockdown.

Kent residents have been pleased to be able to enjoy food and drink inside a restaurant, pub or café as the hospitality industry opens its doors.

Among those making the most of their first day of freedom was 79-year-old Jim Southgate who went to the Royal Pavilion Wetherspoon in Ramsgate.

The retired long-distance driver enjoys a regular morning pint at the pub.

He said: "It's great to be back to the old routine. They've got a nice outdoor roof terrace here but that's not been so great in the rain we've had lately."

Our reporter Gerry Warren talks to manager of the Royal Pavilion Chris Whitbourn

Manager of the pub Chris Whitbourn said: "We've definitely missed having that buzz and the atmosphere you always get when you first walk in to a pub. With the inside reopening we're able to double our capacity, welcome our regulars and more people and bring back more of our staff and even recruit more staff for the busy summer season."

Over in Canterbury, the Thomas Ingoldsby also had some early morning visitors.

Bob Mcintosh, 67, and Barry Fleet, 70, were having a catch up in the pub in Burgate this morning.

Bob said: "It's very nice to be back, we've missed being inside. We're very much part of the furniture in here as we come every day.

"We get here in the morning and stay probably for about five or so hours. Everyone knows us and we love speaking to people and catching up.

"We drink but we don't get legless or anything - it's good to be sociable. So it's great we can now come back inside and sit in the warm in our area, rather than out in the cold and rain."

The weather has hampered many businesses in the last few weeks including Unita 4 in Ashford's Elwick Place.

Owner Damiano Vecchio said: "We've been in the rain trading in the last few weeks so we've been looking forward to welcoming people.

"We did about 25-30 sittings under umbrellas but it's been tough. The weather didn't help.

"We've got a lot of bookings this week which makes us happy. People are really looking forward to it I think."

In Sittingbourne, Sara Seabridge, landlady at the Yellow Stock micropub, in the High Street, had a full house and beer garden.

She said: “It’s been nice and steady. We’ve had our regulars back who have been waiting a long time for this, and also some new people come to visit us who haven’t been in, so it’s been really good.

“It’s a relief because it’s nice to see people inside.

"Obviously we’re a pub, so that’s what you want but obviously it’s still not quite there.

"We’ll wait until next month where hopefully things will go ahead and we’ll take screens down and not having to wear masks and things like that.”

Mary Marsh, customer assistant from Bailey’s coffee and sandwich shop, in Sittingbourne High Street, said: “It’s been really good to have our regulars back in and see some faces and bodies sitting down.

“We are expecting it to get busier as the weeks go on and more and more people get the confidence to come in and sit down.

"Everyone we spoke to has told us how much they’ve missed coming in and sitting down for something to eat and drink so it’s just about people getting that bit more confidence and enjoying being out again but understandably concerned about this new variant.”

Shopper Sinead Bray said it was good to be able to escape the English weather in a cafe or restaurant. The hairdresser said: “It’s been on and off showers, so being able to hide from that in a coffee shop has been really nice.

"It feels like things are returning back to normality again but you can’t be certain with everything which has gone on in the past year and a half!”

For Gurjit Randhawa, owner of Esquires Coffee franchise in Dartford and Crayford, today's reopening was both nerve wracking and exciting in equal measure.

Speaking at the Dartford branch in the High Street, he said: "It is a little bit of a nervous thing.

"It is like starting a business all over again.

"Some people are very excited. The biggest thing for us is making the environment relaxing.

"We just want people to feel comfortable.

"I know some restaurants and pubs have rules and processes they have to follow. Luckily we don't have that to the same level. At the same time we are following Covid rules. We are just trying out best to be normal."

Staff have been "buzzing" to return all week, the cafe boss adds: "Just working as a team again. As a takeaway they have two people.

"Now with four or five they have a better balance and share the load."

Customers Eileen Wheaton, 77 and husband Edward 86, of King Edward Avenue in West Hill were also taking advantage of the opportunity to dine inside.

Eileen said: "We could not wait to get back in. We've just been getting takeaway coffee and having it in the park."

"We just want people to feel comfortable..."

For Abdul Saleem, 44, and partner Maryon, 25, safety remains their overriding concern and Abdul was pleased by the "protective measures" in place at the coffee shop and said it was reassuring to see "staff taking steps to keep customers safe" with the wearing of face shields and masks and regular cleaning.

He added: "The most important thing is that people have a sense of responsibility and take protective measures."

While pubs and restaurants have been open for five weeks if only outside, some businesses are opening their doors again for the first time in months.

Buzz Bingo welcomed players back to its venues across Kent.

In Dover, 86-year-old Celia Bell was given the honour of cutting the ribbon so people could return and starting winning or losing their money again.

The grand reopening of Buzz Bingo in Dover

Peter Brigden, chief retail officer, at Buzz Bingo said: "As the majority of our customers haven’t been able to properly visit some of our clubs for over a year, we want them to feel completely safe now that it’s possible for them to do so."

Casey Belsey, 29, general manager of Flip Out in Chatham was excited about welcoming customers back for the first time since November.

He said: “It feels amazing after six or seven months to see the team again and see the guests coming in happy with their families.

"I felt a bit nervous because it’s been a very long time, especially for myself as manager, to open for the first time after seven months and deliver the same experience and expectations. People have been stuck in for such a long time and today is their first day coming here so they might come with a little bit more expectation and hunger - it’s up to us to deliver.

"It might take us a little while to get up to speed. An hour in and so far it’s all good - everyone’s checked in and everyone’s having a good time.

"Obviously there are Covid procedures. You have to book because capacity is limited, we take people’s temperature on arrival, and there’s sanitiser, but other than that it’s the same experience. We’ve got trampolines, inflatables, stunt zones and giant inflatable with a slide and obstacles.

"I think our hopes are that we maintain numbers that we would have at this time of year. Today is as busy as we can be.

"I think people were a bit more cautious when lockdown finished last time but this time they’re raring to go. Hopefully people can come here and enjoy themselves doing something they’ve been deprived of for so long."

Among the first back through the door was Lynsey Jeeves, 34, and her son Jaden.

“Last time we came was before covid,” she said. “He loves it. He’s a very active child and loves anything outdoors or like this.

"I work in a hospital for the NHS so I’ve been working throughout and it’s been up and down. As a single parent household I’ve been able to double up with my sister who’s also a single parent household, so he’s been able to see his cousins and he goes to nursery at hospital so he’s been able to see other children.

"It’s different if you can get out. We went to Chessington on Friday because it was his birthday and I wanted to go somewhere else today because I’m back at work tomorrow.”

Four-year-old Blake was enjoying his first time at Flip Out with parents Ashley and Kim Reynard.

Ashley said: “It’s the first time we’ve been indoors somewhere for a long while.

“It’s our first time here. We’ve been to Soar in Gillingham before - it’s just nice for him to get out and have a bit of indoor fun with other kids.

“Lockdown has been ok for us but not so much for him. It’s good to get some days out again.”

Kim added: “He kept saying are we going to get wet when we go out. I kept having to explain we’re going somewhere indoors.”

Another business to be excited to reopen was soft play centre Adventure Kidz in Aylesford, with the children, their parents and the centre owners all delighted.

And Shane Godwin, managing director of Macknade fine foods, which has branches in Ashford and Faversham, said he was excited about reopening indoor areas.

Shane Godwin, MD of Macknade fine foods talks about reopening indoors

While there's excitement among the people getting out today, one pub boss is already looking ahead to the next stage.

Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame says the hospitality industry needs the government to drop social distancing.

He said: "The sector will really be saved when we have no social distancing - last week we hoped that would be on June 21 and that date has been thrown into some doubt now. But we need to keep pushing for the full lifting of restrictions.

"Social distancing restricts capacity and therefore restricts your ability to trade in a normal way.

"Last month we traded above expectation, despite the inclement weather. If we continue on the roadmap as we hope we will, we believe we'll see a great British summer."

Commenting on today’s easing of restrictions, Alison Dugall, Kent County Council’s interim director of public health, said: “People are behaving very well.

"We do need to be cautious, take things slowly, be measured about the way we come out of the lockdown. That is the best way to protect vulnerable people in our population.”

"We know that when we had the issue in Kent around Christmas time, when we asked the public to change their behaviour to take account of the virus they respond really well.

“Our rates are lower than the national average figures.

"We are in a really good place.

"We do need to be cautious, take things slowly, be measured about the way we come out of the lockdown. That is the best way to protect vulnerable people in our population.”

The new rules

What can I do indoors?

You'll be able to welcome your loved ones back into your homes from now on, with a limit of up to six people or two households.

If you don't want to sit indoors you can visit a number of museums, cinemas, restaurants and pubs around the county.

There will be no 10pm curfew in place this time.

Drinkers will also be able to meet others for a pint without needing to buy a "substantial meal", but they will be required to eat and drink while seated.

KMTV reports on Adventure Kidz in Aylesford getting ready to reopen

Which outdoor activities are allowed?

As the country head in to the - hopefully hotter - summer months people in the county will be allowed to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people.

The government's road map does advise people though to "decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances" when arranging to meet.

Are social contact rules changing?

Much different to the previous strict rules on distancing and social contact, people will be given a choice on what to do with their friends and family from different households.

Mark Stubbs is the head chef at Wheelers Oyster Bar in Whitstable

It means loved ones will be allowed to hug for the first in over a year under new guidelines.

Despite the "make your own choice" guidance from the government, it is urging people to remain cautious about the risks of personal contact.

How many people can go to a wedding, funeral or religious ceremonies?

Many of these events had been capped at around a dozen people in the previous months, under harsher lockdown restrictions.

However, the government has now said for weddings, reception, wakes and religious events such as bar mitzvahs and christenings, up to 30 people will be able to attended.

It will also lift the cap on the number of people attending funerals.

However, this will be in line with the venues regulations and how may people it can safely accommodate.

Will sporting events and other performances go ahead?

Similar to pubs and restaurants May 17 signals a return to theatres and indoor sporting area, with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people.

Outdoor arenas however will be able to host live events with a maximum number of 4,000 people attending, or for large outdoor seated venues crowds can be as big as 10,000 people.

What changes are there to education and work?

There are some changes coming in to force from today to working and education conditions.

University students will finally be returning to their campuses today after months of virtual teaching.

Those who return for face-to-face lectures will be expected to get tested twice a week throughout the rest of the summer term.

Youngsters in primary and secondary school will also no longer be required to wear face masks in classrooms or communal areas.

The government's advice for employees to work from home where they can remains the same.

Can I book a holiday abroad?

As of today the ban on overseas holiday has been lifted and people will be allowed to travel to certain "green listed" locations.

The likes of Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland and the Faroe Islands - plus several small remote British Islands are currently on the list.

Within England, hotels, hostels and B&Bs can re-open to customers, with overnight stays allowed in groups of up to six people or two households.

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