THERE’LL be cheers all round from Monday as pubs and restaurants can resume serving people indoors.

And as well as going to indoor food and entertainment venues, we’ll all be allowed inside other people’s homes for ‘hugs and sleepovers’ in England once again, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.

‘We are so excited to be welcoming people back,’ says Catharine Jessiman, owner of Dawlish restaurant The Ugly Duckling, as lockdown restrictions are set to be eased on Monday. Bookings at the eaterie have been soaring and Catharine said: ‘All our staff are all really looking forward to having people back in the restaurant

‘We have been providing an outdoor service but the rain and wind really haven’t helped us.

‘During lockdown we have had a really lovely set of customers who have had home deliveries from us. Their loyalty has meant we have been able to keep our heads above water, ready to open on Monday. We are so grateful to them.

‘We have not put our prices up and many of them are the same as they were when we went into Lockdown One,’ added Catharine.

She thanked her team as they worked to keep their customers safe and follow guidelines which would mean cutting the number of diners to around 40, from 65.

‘Word has got out and bookings are flying in,’ she added.

And all across Teignbridge licensees will be priming the pumps and polishing the bar tops to welcome customers back indoors.

While standing at the bar isn’t yet allowed, customers will now be served drinks at table.

While many pubs have been able to get through the lockdown by opening beer gardens and creating outdoor areas, those pubs unable to do so due to space limitations have remained closed.

The Bell Inn in Bovey Tracey was one of those pubs fortunate to have a beer garden with seating for more than 100 people, but even so, licensee Eoghan Kelly, who runs the town centre pub with his wife Ann, said the new guidelines would be welcomed by many.

‘This will allow us to serve another 40 customers with social distancing of course,’ he said. ‘And I know that some of my regulars will prefer to sit inside, especially if the weather is unreliable, so they will welcome the new rules.’

Karen, Alan and ‘fun loving staff’ at Newton Abbot’s The Country Table said: ‘We are so pleased that we can open our doors again on Monday.

‘Many customers, on line and when seen in town, have commented that they are looking forward to coming back, they have missed their cheese scones, coffees and breakfasts.

‘During lockdown The Country Table Cafe had a milestone anniversary of being open for 25 years, March 1996 – March 2021. We obviously couldn’t celebrate, that may have to wait a while. But we would like to thank our customers past and present for being so loyal and supportive all these years.

‘Covid is now thankfully, on its way out, and we look forward to a healthy and bright future together with you.’

The rules in England are being further relaxed as the country reaches step three in the government’s road map out of lockdown.

The Prime Minister has thanked everyone for their patience and sacrifices but urged people to consider how vulnerable someone is when deciding whether to give them a hug.

He warned the change in rules ‘this does not mean we should throw caution to the wind’ and says hugging is still a main way the virus can spread.

From May 17 six people, or two households, will be able to mix indoors.

Sleepovers are back on also, with overnight stays allowed with people not in your bubble.

Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, and cinemas can open as well as indoor play areas and bowling alleys.It would have to be a small party though, as the limits on meeting indoors is still six people or two households.

Groups of up to 30 people are allowed to meet up outside.

Face coverings will no longer be required in schools or colleges in either classrooms or communal areas.

Schools will also be able to go on trips with overnight stays.

People in England will be allowed to take holidays abroad in a small number of countries on the green list announced last week.

Up to 30 people can attend weddings, double the amount that are allowed to currently – including the happy couple. Previously receptions could only take place outdoors at Covid-secure venues and had to be in the form of a sit-down meal. But now they can be held indoors too as long as it is classed as a Covid-secure venue.

More than 30 people can attend funerals.