Sydney emerges from pandemic lockdown, beer in hand

Customers chat over beers at the Fortune of War pub, on the first morning of pubs and many other businesses re-opening to vaccinated people, following months of lockdown orders to curb an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sydney, Australia, October 11, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Sydney's oldest pub opened one hour early on Monday to welcome back its regulars after the city emerged from a more than 100-day lockdown, allowing COVID-19 vaccinated locals to enjoy new freedoms including a morning beer at their favourite bar.

Soon after doors opened at 9:00 a.m. (2200 GMT Sunday), a handful of customers filled up one side of the bar at the Fortune of War, an almost two century-old pub looking out towards Sydney's main ferry and cruise ship wharf in The Rocks precinct.