Nandos and Burger King have both announced plans to reopen restaurants today in more signs of Britain easing itself out of lockdown as traffic jams return to the roads despite the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.
The popular chicken chain shut its door on March 23 due to the pandemic but has now reopened six restaurants – located in London and Manchester – for delivery only.
It comes as US fast-food giant Burger King also today announced that they are opening the first drive-thru for customers to use again and traffic levels remained higher than at any point since the lockdown began.
Drivers complained about jam packed roads today with one motorist posting a snap of the M25 as he sat in a traffic jam and wrote: ‘Seriously M25!? The country is quite literally in lockdown but we are still at a standstill!’
But according to Tom Tom data the traffic in London was marginally better than it was yesterday – suggesting that while drivers are gradually returning to the roads there is not a widespread flouting of social distancing.
Congestion in London at 8am was 50% lower than normal, compared to 49% lower than normal on Monday. However today’s traffic is still an increase on early last week when congestion levels were 51-53% below normal.
Nonetheless the United Kingdom is seeing a slow increase in traffic levels – with congestion reaching 34% of its normal level yesterday afternoon.
Mobility data from Apple based on requests for directions via its apps showed more people are now driving, but the use of public transport has remained static.
The M25 was incredibly busy on Tuesday morning and one driver posted this image
Congestion in London at 8am was 50% lower than normal, compared to 49% lower than normal on Monday at the same time
Mobility data from Apple based on requests for directions via its apps showed more people are now driving, but the use of public transport has remained static.Traffic in London on Saturday and Sunday – the most recent Apple data available – was up 4 per cent on the week before. Walking is also steadily increasing – it was up 8 per cent on the week before in London on Saturday.
The A40 this morning showed a number of vehicles close together on the road
Britiain is continuing to edge out of coronavirus lockdown with more heading to work
A large queue of traffic builds up outside the Blackwall Tunnel in London. Drivers had also complained about queues in the area yesterday for the first time since the lockdown began
Traffic in London on Saturday and Sunday – the most recent Apple data available – was up 4 per cent on the week before. Walking is also steadily increasing – it was up 8 per cent on the week before in London on Saturday.
Images of the A40 this morning also showed cars, vans and lorries driving close together, side by side in the drizzle, though congestion has stayed level compared to Monday.
But foot the wet weather kept pedestrians at home after days of people enjoying the country’s parks during the recent sunny weather. Queues at DIY stores including BandQ were also more subdued.
Downpours could last until mid-May as temperatures plunge by 50F overnight – in stark contrast to the rest of this month which saw the sunniest April since 1929, according to forecasters.
The Met Office said the ‘unsettled’ theme will likely last into the beginning of May, becoming more ‘settled’ into the second week, May 11 onward, with ‘mixed’ conditions until the end of the month.
Temperatures plummeted by 50F (10C) on Monday night with the mercury dropping to around 52F (11C) in London today.
The public have been told to only leave their homes when absolutely essential by the government but the A40 images suggests not everybody is sticking to the guidelines.
On the London Underground, the platforms were filled with commuters, some of whom were wearing protective clothing and others without.
Social distancing was nowhere to be seen as hundreds crammed into the tube and stood within close proximity of one another.
It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel warned drivers to stay off the roads unless their journey is essential following traffic volumes rising last week to 41 per cent of normal compared to 38 per cent the previous week.
Shoppers still queued up at the B&Q in Charlton, South London,despite the miserable. But they were fewer in number than at the weekend when peope turned out in their droves
On the London Underground, platforms remain busy with social distancing an impossibility
Canning Town is one of the busier stations and commuters are still using public transport
Britain is continuing to edge out of lockdown with some businesses taking the first tentative steps back to reality.
Fast food giant Burger King have today announced that they are opening the first drive-thru for customers to use again.
Only last week a drive-thru offering delivery only was mobbed by furious customers trying to get served.
Drivers in Coventry beeped their horns at each other as they jostled for a position, with one Deliveroo driver giving up after waiting more than an hour to collect orders.
Burger King are also re-opening a further eight restaurants across England and Scotland from Wednesday. The drive-thru restaurant will open in Havant, between 12 – 11pm and will allow customers to place their orders via the Burger King Drive Thru, and for delivery through Just Eat or Deliveroo.
London’s Trafalgar Square pictured looking empty on a wet and miserable Tuesday morning during the coronavirus lockdown, bringing the recent April heatwave crashing to an end with heavy showers and thunder expected on Thursday
Regent Street sodden from the rain this morning, remaining empty during the coronavirus pandemic. The UK is in lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus, with Boris Johnson warning the public against relaxing precautions too soon
The empty spaces of London this morning. It follows the Met Office announcing the sunniest April since records began in 1929 with 212.5 hours of sunshine so far, compared to 211.9 hours in 2015
A woman riding a bike attempts to shelter from water being sprayed by a passing lorry during a heavy downpours on the A40 at Perivale in West London. The public can only leave their homes for exercise or essential shopping during lockdown
An essential worker makes their way across a rain-swept London Bridge while holding an umbrella as wet weather heralds the end of April’s hot spell. Showers are expected to become heavy and thundery later this week, on Thursday
Shoppers queuing up outside a supermarket in waterproof coats while holding umbrellas at Bridport in Dorset as light rain falls following a wet night which saw temperatures fall by 50F
A shopper wearing a rainproof coat and holding an umbrella as rain falls in Bridport, Dorset. According to the Met Office, the second week of May has the ‘best chance’ of more ‘settled and drier’ period
A shopper with an umbrella up at Bridport in Dorset as Britons leave their homes for essential shopping. Bookmaker Coral said there is a ‘strong chance’ next month could be the wettest May on record in the UK, making it odds-on at 1-2
This month saw the sunniest April since records began (left), but the heatwave has been brought crashing to an end as 5ml to 15ml of rain (right) is expected widely across the UK today
Following this week and as part of its phased re-opening plan, Burger King has also announced it plans to re-open one restaurant in every city by 31st May.
In addition to the eight restaurants opening from Wednesday they will open a further 12 over the following consecutive weeks.
The company insist that they will still be taking the correct precautions which include additional PPE such as masks and gloves for staff, stringent cleaning measures, contactless delivery options via Deliveroo and Just Eat and all Burger King staff being trained on social distancing measures – including how to run kitchens hygienically, whilst abiding by them.
As a way of saying thank you to NHS workers, Burger King UK has also announced it will continue to donate meals to staff working at hospitals local to the re-opened restaurants.
Although the delivery and Drive Thru service will mean customers won’t be able to access the full Burger King menu, Burger King favourites such as the Chicken Royale, Bacon Double Cheeseburger and Whopper will all be available to order.