England prepares to take its biggest step out of coronavirus restrictions on Monday 17 May as the country moves to the third stage of the government’s lockdown exit roadmap.
Rules on hugging, meeting indoors, and gathering in bigger groups are all changing from this date – returning many freedoms which have been banned for over six months in some parts of the country.
The current national lockdown has been lifted gradually since March 8 – proceeding smoothly with a steady decline in national cases accompanied by a mass vaccination campaign.
April 12 saw the return of non-essential retail, outdoor hospitality, gyms, personal care premises, outdoor attractions and self-contained accommodation.
But mounting concern over the spread of a more infectious strain of COVID-19 had begun to cast doubt as to whether more restrictions could be lifted as intended on May 17.
Testing and vaccinations have been ramped up in towns where cases are spiking such as Bolton, and local lockdowns are not yet being ruled out – with infection rates set to be closely monitored in the coming weeks to determine if different action is required in future.
But crucially, ministers have agreed to “cautiously” proceed with the roadmap as planned – with May 17 marking a memorable day on the 2021 calendar for everyone in England.
Here’s what’s set to change.
Social contact
Some restrictions on social contact are being removed from May 17 / Image: Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash
Restrictions on social contact are being removed from May 17.
Six people or two households can meet indoors from this date, whilst overnight stays are also allowed.
Care home residents can also have up to five named visitors.
Gatherings of up to 30 people are now allowed outdoors.
Attendance numbers allowed at funerals are determined by the size of the venue.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes
Indoor hospitality is reopening from May 17 / Image: cottonbro via Pexels
Bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes right across the country are welcoming back customers this month.
The hospitality sector is allowed to serve indoors from May 17 – having been operating on an outdoor-only basis since April 12.
Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord embarked on a campaign to see the rules lifted earlier, and despite some initial success in helping convince judges to drop the substantial meal rule in pubs, his latest efforts to get indoor hospitality reopened sooner than May 17 were shut down in court.
Indoor service can resume from May 17 – although customers still have to order, eat and drink while seated.
Holidays can resume
Overseas travel and holidays will be permitted from May 17 / Image: Pexels
The door has reopened from domestic and international travel from May 17.
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs in England can take bookings for leisure purposes.
Overseas holidays are also allowed again, but with restrictions. The government has introduced a travel system that categorises nations as ‘red’, ‘amber’ or ‘green’ depending on a number of risk factors – such as infection rates and the presence of variants.
The traffic light system is as follows:
Green: Arrivals will not need to quarantine when they arrive in England.
Amber: Arrivals must quarantine for 10 days when they arrive in England.
Red: Arrivals in England must stay for 10 days in a managed quarantine hotel.
Currently, a handful of countries have been added to the ‘green list’ – including Australia, New Zealand, Gibraltar, Iceland and Portugal.
Indoor culture and entertainment venues such as museums, theatres and cinemas all reopen from May 17 – with a big campaign launched in Manchester to welcome people back after 200 days of closures.
Indoor adult group sports and exercise classes are allowed to recommence – with steam rooms and saunas also permitted to reopen.
Larger performances and sporting events with a reduced number of spectators will take place following a number of trial events this month.
From May 17, indoor venues can welcome up to 1,000 people or operate half-full (whichever is a lower number).
Outdoor venues can hold up to 4,000 people or operate at 50% capacity (whichever is a lower number).
In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
The roadmap to exiting lockdown can be found in full on the government website.
Featured image: WelcomeBackManchester
News
Manchester City staff member sacked after wearing Man United shirt to shift
Danny Jones
Man City have divided a fair few supporters after they sacked a barman for wearing a United shirt to their shift during the Manchester derby.
Although it’s not exactly surprising, the decision has ruffled plenty of feathers on both sides, as well as among neutral fans.
The Blues emerged victorious in the 197th clash between the two local rivals, winning 3-0 on an evening that paid tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton, but another backstory looming over the fixture that caught the attention of football fans online was the City staff member who lost his job.
Working on concessions inside the Etihad Stadium before the game, the barman was made known to the official MCFC Matchday Support channel on X, who quickly confirmed he had been let go before the game even began.
In the since-deleted post, the home fan who reported the worker wrote: “Absolute joke – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day.”
Although many City fans applauded the fast action by the club on the day, it’s fair to say that sacking him so soon that he didn’t even last until kick-off has rubbed many others the wrong way.
One Liverpool fan commented: “I hate United way more than City, but to sack him from a job because of an item of clothing is crazy. So, so poor from Manchester City, this. It’s just football lads, he’s not wearing a political or derogatory symbol. It’s literally a football team…”
Another neutral added: “Getting a minimum wage worker sacked for having a bit of fun instead of just winding him up is the absolute sad state this country is in.”
Even the ‘Out Of Context Football Manager‘ parody account chipped in, writing: “The guy’s been sacked for this. All he needed was a formal warning. I get he’s taking the p*ss – but losing a salary he might really need over this?!
While many have been even more outspoken in their response, as you can see, many supporters – be they Red or otherwise – have come up with arguably the perfect solution:
Manchester City are yet to comment on the backlash, apart from the initial confirmation that the still-anonymous staff member has been released from his position, but as for Man United, simply sticking him on the kiosks in the Stretford End could prove to be a very easy bit of positive PR.
Besides the growing frustration around the fanbase, as Ruben Amorim has yet to turn things around at Old Trafford (pressure was growing even before the derby day defeat), the Red Devils could no doubt do with some positive press for a change.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and the wider INEOS Sports administration sanctioned a second round of redundancies at United, with approximately 450 individuals losing their jobs.
That being said, although some have labelled the sacking of the now ex-City barman as “absolutely horrendous behaviour” for Man City, many jumped to quip back that “[United are] more likely to sack more bar staff, not hire them”, as well as simultaneously taking aim at their significant transfer spending.
Featured Images — Mataniels via X (now deleted)/The Manc Group
News
Teen arrested on suspicion of murder after 15-year-old boy is killed in Moss Side stabbing
Emily Sergeant
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the killing of a 15-year-old boy in Moss Side yesterday.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that officers were called out to reports of a ‘disturbance’ involving a number of people on Monton Street in Moss Side at just after 4:30pm yesterday (15 September), and when they arrived on the scene, they found a 15-year-old boy with serious stab wounds.
After being treated both at the scene and later in hospital, the boy was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
#NEWS | A 15-year-old boy has sadly been pronounced dead, murder investigation launched and S60 put in place for the below area following an disturbance on Monton Street, Moss Side earlier this evening (15 September).
Due to the shocking nature of the incident, police confirmed that a Section 60 – which allows officers to ‘stop and search’ people within a specific area – has been put in place until 5:20pm this evening.
With enquiries currently ongoing, and GMP describing the investigation as ‘progressing at pace’, it has now been confirmed that a teenager, also a 15-year-old boy, the same as the victim, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and he remains in police custody for questioning.
His family are aware of this development and continue to be supported by specially-trained officers.
#ARREST | Following our earlier update, a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
This arrest comes after the death of another 15-year-old boy on Monton Street, Moss Side yesterday (15 September 2025).
“There is a thorough investigation plan in place as we look to find the perpetrator of this appalling act that has seen a young man lose his life,” explained Chief Superintendent David Meeney, from GMP’s City of Manchester district.
“This incident will understandably have caused shock and concern within the community and the surrounding area, particularly those who witnessed it, so you will see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.
“We remain committed to providing the victim’s family with the answers they deserve.”
Anyone with any information, or who may have been in the area at the time of the incident, is urged to contact GMP on 101 or online, quoting log 2327 of 15/09/25.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The Manc -
17th May 2021 
