A glimmer of hope this morning — the government has definitely commissioned a new series of Pubs, but no comfirmation of an airing date yet.

pub cheers

What we do know, however, is that the requirement for a substantial meal will be a thing of the past, according to a report in The Times this morning. We may have seen the back of the supersized Scotch egg.

“Outside markets are likely to be allowed to open before high street shops, and al-fresco dining before eating indoors,” says the paper. “A new set of indicators to be used to judge whether England can move to the next stage of the release is being prepared. Johnson has said that he does not want a return to regional tiers.”

The prime minister is set to make an announcement on when pubs can re-open in a speech on Monday, 22nd February.

The British Beer & Pub Association has calculated that 87 million pints of beer could be thrown away because of lockdown. This would be enough to fill 20 Olympic sized swimming pools, according to the New South Wales Irrigators’ Council. No, I don’t know who asked them, or why.

And a sensible suggestion on Twitter this morning:

We are past the second peak of infection, according to Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer. But dare we dream that the end is nigh?