At a London rooftop bar, drinking and laughter return as lockdown eases

A woman carries drinks at the Skylight rooftop bar as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions ease, in London, Britain April 12, 2021. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

LONDON (Reuters) - On a London rooftop terrace on Monday, hundreds of people savoured the chance to meet and drink together for the first time in months, after the government eased COVID-19 restrictions and allowed pubs and restaurants to serve small groups outdoors.

The Skylight bar in the east of the capital was abuzz with chatter and laughter, a welcome return to some kind of normality for Britons who had endured one of the world's longest lockdowns.