Pints and pants in packed Doncaster as town reawakens after lockdown

From today, non-essential shops, pub beer gardens, hairdressers and gyms can all re-open following the Government’s latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

And it was clear that thousands have missed Doncaster town centre with streets and shops packed and queues building up outside stores, barber shops and pubs as drinkers headed to beer gardens for a pint or several.

Primark was the place most shoppers seemed to have missed, with queues snaking around the block to get into the Market Place discount fashion store throughout the day.

And it seems underwear was at the top of most people’s shopping lists after three months of shuttered shops.

"Pants!,” was the response from Skellow’s Rachel Reece when asked what she was queuing down St George Gate for.

“I need to get some fresh undies,” she laughed. “I don’t just need those, I just wanted to get back into town and back to the shops.

"It has been such a long time.”

Helen Arnall was also in the queue for bargain briefs and said: “Everyone likes to get fresh underwear don’t they? It seems like months since I went out shopping properly. It is nice to see so many people out.”

Having a pint also seemed to be at the top of people’s priorities in Doncaster town centre too – although not all pubs have yet re-opened.

Mark Hull, who was enjoying a lager in the sunshine outside the Hall Cross on Hall Gate said: “It don’t half feel good to have a pint in the pub again.

“It is going to take some getting used to it but I think most people will be sensible and will hopefully act properly, even if they have had a few.”

There were also queues outside many of the town centre barber shops and salons as people flocked to get their hair cut.