Crowds of people flocked to Kingston town centre on Monday and Tuesday (April 12-13) after months of restrictions on non-essential retail and services were lifted.
Large queues outside a number of popular high-street chains were seen at the start of the week as people hurried to return to their favourite shops and service outlets shuttered for months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Authorities in the borough praised reopening made possible by the low numbers of new Covid-19 infections even as they warned residents to remain vigilant and continue to follow safety measures like frequent hand-washing or sanitising and keeping distance from others as much as possible.
Kingston Council (RBK) offered cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels in the borough the chance to acquire temporary pavement licences to serve customers 'al fresco' as lockdown restrictions were eased yesterday, something eagerly taken up by many businesses and their returning clientele alike.
Matthew Hill, Assistant Director for Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services at Kingston Council, said:
"Kingston is a major London destination for leisure, shopping and entertainment so we’re keen to do everything possible to help businesses get back on their feet.
"These new temporary licences will be a lifeline for many who have been forced to close for months."
Below are a collection of photos taken in central Kingston on Monday as residents returned to the high street by Photographer Oliver Monk.
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