Pub landlords have hailed the news that Boris Johnson's 'Freedom Day' plans will mark the end of mask wearing and table service in hospitality venues.
Many hospitality business owners are waiting with anticipation to see what the Prime Minister will announce this afternoon.
But others are adamant that they will be ditching all restrictions as soon as they are allowed to under law.
Adam Brooks, who runs The Three Colts and The Owl pubs in Essex, told Mail Online: I'll be ditching everything. It's what's right.
'It's what the businesses were designed as, hundreds of years of history. Standing at bars is a British tradition.'
He later posted on social media: 'Hospitality & this country needs what's going to be said tonight. This isn't about 'Drinking at a bar' .. This is about life as you knew it returning [sic].'
Pub landlord Adam Brooks runs The Three Colts and The Owl pubs in Essex and says he will be thrilled to reinstate the 'British tradition' of drinking at the bar once restrictions are lifted
Gary Murphy, who runs Ye Olde Mitre in High Barnet, also insisted it is time to 'return to normalcy' as the Covid restrictions have piled pressure on hospitality businesses
He added in a second Tweet: 'Isn't freedom a lovely thing, the CHOICE to wear a mask or social distance if YOU want to, the choice not go to the busy pub or restaurant if YOU don't want to [sic].'
Boris Johnson is to declare an end to most lockdown restrictions from July 19 at a press conference later today.
Social distancing rules, the work from home order, and mask mandates are expected to be ditched as the Prime Minister will argue that we must learn to live with coronavirus as we do with the flu.
The Prime Minister will use a press conference this afternoon to confirm a bonfire of virus rules and restrictions from the so-called Freedom Day later this month, in which he will say that individuals will again be able to judge the risks of coronavirus for themselves.
The announcement was welcomed with cautious optimism by Wetherspoons boss, Tim Martin.
But the pub giant boss said he would be waiting to see what the government's plans are when they are finally published.
He told Mail Online: 'We will look into what the government is proposing later this week, having discussed with pub teams during our calls on pubs in the interim.
'In broad terms, Wetherspoon, like the industry, welcomes with open arms, any signs of normality.'
This was echoed by pub chain Youngs, who also said they would wait until the Prime Minister's announcement before any decision would be made over restrictions in their pubs.
Boris Johnson is to declare an end to most lockdown restrictions from July 19 at a press conference later today
The announcement was welcomed with cautious optimism by Wetherspoons boss,
