Post-lockdown freedom is too much for some! Ugly melee breaks out between two women drinkers in York as jubilant Britons enjoy their second night at outdoor pubs

  • Footage showed at least five people piling onto each other in the scuffle outside the King's Arms beer garden on the second day of resumed outdoor service 
  • A young woman in fluffy slippers was seen dragging another out of the melee by her hair before flinging her onto the cobbles as horrified members of the public watched on 
  • The chaotic scene came as hordes of Britons tonight returned for another round of drinking at their local pubs after Boris Johnson re-opened outdoor table service for bars and restaurants on Monday  
  • But the prime minister has warned people to 'show restraint' after revellers were seen sprawled on streets of town centres after the first day of boozing under his roadmap out of lockdown 

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Post-lockdown drinking descended into violence in York on Monday as a woman was seen hurling another to the ground during a brawl outside a pub.

Footage showed at least five people piling onto each other in the scuffle outside the King's Arms beer garden on the second day of resumed outdoor service.

A young woman in fluffy slippers was seen dragging another out of the melee by her hair before flinging her onto the cobbles as horrified members of the public watched on.

Meanwhile  a woman was hit by a car after a fight broke out outside a pub when lockdown restrictions were lifted in Manchester.

The woman, who narrowly escaped being seriously injured, was taken to hospital following the incident outside the Cornishman Pub, in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on Monday night.

Officers were called just after 7.35pm to reports of a group of people fighting outside the public house on Cornishway.

During the altercation a car struck the woman, before hitting another vehicle, police said.

The chaotic scenes came as hordes of Britons tonight returned for another round of drinking at their local pubs after Boris Johnson re-opened outdoor table service for bars and restaurants on Monday.

Some 14 million pub bookings have been made in the stampede to secure beer gardens for the weeks ahead as the country looks towards brighter weather and loosed restrictions. 

But the prime minister has warned people to 'show restraint' after revellers were seen sprawled on streets of town centres after the first day of boozing under his roadmap out of lockdown.

The fight in Yorkshire, which left at least one man wounded, was uploaded to social media by a local resident, who captioned it: 'Didn't take long for York to get back to normal.' 

Police said they were investigating the fight and making urgent enquiries of people who were at the King's Arms and of CCTV in the area. 

Shocking footage shows the women at the scene of a brawl between a group of men in the King's Arms beer garden, with drinkers looking on and filming the scuffle

Shocking footage shows the women at the scene of a brawl between a group of men in the King's Arms beer garden, with drinkers looking on and filming the scuffle

But as they break away from the pack, a separate fight breaks out between the two of them

But as they break away from the pack, a separate fight breaks out between the two of them

The drinker who inflicted the initial blow then grabs the other woman's hair and drags her down to the ground, much to the shock of those looking on

The drinker who inflicted the initial blow then grabs the other woman's hair and drags her down to the ground, much to the shock of those looking on

Two young women drinking wine outside a bar on Old Compton Street, Soho, London, on Tuesday

Two young women drinking wine outside a bar on Old Compton Street, Soho, London, on Tuesday

Two young men chat with a police officer in central London tonight as the Met kept their eye on the party atmosphere following the lockdown easing

Two young men chat with a police officer in central London tonight as the Met kept their eye on the party atmosphere following the lockdown easing

A young man laughs as someone in a rainbow-coloured ensemble cuts through the tables in Soho on Tuesday night amid a raucous party atmosphere as people returned to the pub - albeit outdoors

A young man laughs as someone in a rainbow-coloured ensemble cuts through the tables in Soho on Tuesday night amid a raucous party atmosphere as people returned to the pub - albeit outdoors

Crowds pack into an outdoor pizza bar in central London on Tuesday night as a semblance of normal life resumes

Crowds pack into an outdoor pizza bar in central London on Tuesday night as a semblance of normal life resumes 

Crowds pack outdoor seating to enjoy drinks in central London for the first time in months on Tuesday

Crowds pack outdoor seating to enjoy drinks in central London for the first time in months

Drinkers outside the Cafe Boheme bistro on Old Compton Street in Soho, central London, on Tuesday night

Drinkers outside the Cafe Boheme bistro on Old Compton Street in Soho, central London, on Tuesday night

Police officers cut through crowds packing the streets of London for a drink and a bite to eat amid lockdown easing

Police officers cut through crowds packing the streets of central London tonight for a drink and a bite to eat amid lockdown easing

People drinking and eating outside in central London on Tuesday night after Boris Johnson reopened pubs, bars and restaurants for outdoor dining

People drinking and eating outside in central London on Tuesday night after Boris Johnson reopened pubs, bars and restaurants for outdoor dining 

A policeman patrolling in central London tonight as people flocked to their local bars and restaurants for outdoor dining after lockdown easing

A policeman patrolling in central London tonight as people flocked to their local bars and restaurants for outdoor dining after lockdown easing 

Drinkers outside a restaurant in Soho on Tuesday after the Government re-opened outdoor drinking and dining on Monday

Drinkers outside a restaurant in Soho after the Government re-opened outdoor drinking and dining on Monday

Police officers speak to young men out in Soho, central London, on Tuesday night

Police officers speak to young men out in Soho, central London, on Tuesday night

People officers and 'Covid marshalls' keep their eye on drinkers in central London tonight amid lockdown easing

People officers and 'Covid marshalls' keep their eye on drinkers in central London tonight amid lockdown easing

It comes after Mr Johnson said on Tuesday that people shouldn't become careless now that restrictions were starting to be eased, cautioning that it was because of lockdown rules that virus transmission is reduced, not the vaccines.

'At the moment I cannot see any reason for us to change the roadmap or deviate from the targets we've set ourselves,' he said. 'But it is very very important that if we are to get there in the way we want, that people continue to be cautious, and exercise restraint.' 

Thousands of drinkers were seen flocking to their usual hangouts, albeit with outdoor seating, in London Manchester and other major cities this afternoon.  

London's Soho was packed as bars set-up outdoor seating areas in the street to welcome back customers for the first time since December. 

And at one pub, the Fox on the Hill, in London, the whole parking area was converted into a make-shift outdoor area - which was this afternoon filled with revellers rushing to return to their local watering hole.

People enjoying drinks in central London on Tuesday night amid lockdown easing as police patrol the area

People enjoying drinks in central London on Tuesday night amid lockdown easing as police patrol the area

Police officers scan the crowds amid lockdown easing in central London tonight

Police officers scan the crowds amid lockdown easing in central London tonight

Police officers walk past people knocking back drinks on the street after the Government eased lockdown rules

Police officers walk past people knocking back drinks on the street after the Government eased lockdown rules

Drinkers with pints of beer in the British capital on Tuesday night after the Government changed the rules to allow outdoor dining

Drinkers with pints of beer in the British capital on Tuesday night after the Government changed the rules to allow outdoor dining

People knock back pints of Italian lager with their pizzas in central London tonight

People knock back pints of Italian lager with their pizzas in central London tonight

People enjoy a night out in Soho, London, on Tuesday night, sheltered somewhat from the cold by a plastic gazebo

People enjoy a night out in Soho, London, on Tuesday night, sheltered somewhat from the cold by a plastic gazebo 

People enjoy drinks and food on the streets of London tonight after Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown kicked in on Monday

People enjoy drinks and food on the streets of London tonight after Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown kicked in on Monday

Drinkers on the streets of Soho tonight after the Government eased lockdown on Monday

Drinkers on the streets of Soho tonight after the Government eased lockdown on Monday

Diners in Soho enjoy their first night of drinks and food, perhaps for a very long time, after outdoor hospitality was reopened on Monday

Diners in Soho enjoy their first night of drinks and food, perhaps for a very long time, after outdoor hospitality was reopened on Monday

People dining and drinking on Old Compton Street, Soho, on Tuesday night after pubs and restaurants were reopened on Monday

People dining and drinking on Old Compton Street, Soho, on Tuesday night after pubs and restaurants were reopened on Monday

One drinker declared: 'Happy to announce that I have a hangover after a night in a pub' while another celebrated a 'cracking day'. Meanwhile one reveller spoke for many when she said: 'The hangover from April 12 is really like no other'. 

But many were still sinking pints this afternoon and enjoying so-called liquid lunch breaks out in the sunshine.

Dubbed the Glorious Twelfth, yesterday also heralded the return of hairdressers, gyms and non-essential shops.   

Sporting his own trimmed-back trademark blonde locks in Downing Street, the PM warned: 'Clearly yesterday people have been able to go to the pub, to go shopping, get a haircut and so on, and that's great. 

'The numbers are down, of infections and hospitalisations and deaths. But it is very important for everyone to understand that the reduction in these numbers has not been achieved by the vaccination programme - it's the lockdown that has been overwhelmingly important in delivering this improvement in the pandemic.  

A policeman moves in to quell an impromptu dance in the street in central London during drinking on Tuesday

A policeman moves in to quell an impromptu dance in the street in central London during drinking on Tuesday

Liquid lunch! These friends wrap up in coats and perch on a table outside a pub in Bath this afternoon

Liquid lunch! These friends wrap up in coats and perch on a table outside a pub in Bath this afternoon

The Duke of Wellington in Manchester opens its beer garden this lunch time on the second day of eased restrictions

The Duke of Wellington in Manchester opens its beer garden this lunch time on the second day of eased restrictions

Eat, drink and be merry! Pub-goers at the Coach and Horses in London this afternoon after the PM sounded a note of caution

Eat, drink and be merry! Pub-goers at the Coach and Horses in London this afternoon after the PM sounded a note of caution

Dubbed Hangover Tuesday, plenty were nursing sore heads this morning following last night's boozing - but many others were pictured drinking

Dubbed Hangover Tuesday, plenty were nursing sore heads this morning following last night's boozing - but many others were pictured drinking

Punters queue to get into a pub in Manchester this afternoon after the PM urged people to 'exercise restraint'

Punters queue to get into a pub in Manchester this afternoon after the PM urged people to 'exercise restraint'

Borough Market was bustling this afternoon with day-drinkers enjoying foaming pints on the second day of eased restrictions

Borough Market was bustling this afternoon with day-drinkers enjoying foaming pints on the second day of eased restrictions

Friends drink outside a pub in Borough Market this lunch time after Boris Johnson urged people to 'exercise restraint'

Friends drink outside a pub in Borough Market this lunch time after Boris Johnson urged people to 'exercise restraint'

'And so, yes of course the vaccination programme has helped, but the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown. 

'So, as we unlock the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, and sadly more hospitalisations and deaths and people have just got to understand that.'

His bleak projections were echoed by self-styled 'prophet of doom' Chris Hopson, the boss of NHS Providers, who said 'we are likely to have a third and potentially fourth wave' of Covid.  

It comes amid confusion over what counts as a legitimate outdoor seating area, with some pubs ready for reopening told they would have to either close their beer gardens or reduce capacity. 

Government guidance states that shelters, marquees, and other temporary structures with roofs must have half their walls open at all times to be classed as being outdoors. 

However, councils are interpreting the rules differently, leading to outcry from some landlords and restaurant owners who have only just been told they supposedly breach the rules.

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