Despite snow flurries and biting north-easterly winds, city centres were showing signs of life last week as legal districts geared up for today’s relaxation in lockdown rules in England.

Old Bank of England bus

The Old Bank of England pub has craned a bus in to its outdoor drinking space

On Obiter’s home turf, Chancery Lane, businesses due to reopen today range from the London Silver Vaults to The Pregnant Man pub. They will be joined by two barber shops and Urbanfitness, Nicola Frost of the Chancery Lane Association tells Obiter. With indoor eating not due to return until 17 May, office workers can already enjoy takeaways from Press Coffee and LebanEats in the newly installed outdoor seating areas – the lane itself is now closed to traffic from 7am to 7pm. Meanwhile, the Old Bank of England pub, which has already craned a Routemaster bus in to its outdoor drinking space (pictured), is applying for a pavement licence to serve drinks in Bell Yard, with its unbeatable views of the back of the Royal Courts of Justice. Obiter will be fearlessly reporting from the scene.

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