Iconic Poppies: Wave sculpture to arrive at Lincoln Castle this week

There was a sense of excitement in the air on Monday as pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues reopened indoors as the easing of the coronavirus lockdown continues.

Cosy Club and The Botanist in the Cornhill area of the city, and Royal William IV on Brayford Wharf North, were the venues looking very busy on May 17, with others also enjoying a steady stream of customers.

The reopening of the hospitality industry on Monday, with no curfew this time, but table service only, was part of the government’s roadmap, which is now on step three of four, ahead of all restrictions being lifted on June 21.

Cinemas, museums, children’s play areas, theatres, concert halls, conference centre and sports stadiums are also allowed to reopen, while hotels, hostels and B&Bs can welcome back all customers.

The latest lockdown rules also mean that indoor socialising of up to six people or two households is permitted, along with overnight stays – see the latest rules here.

See the latest rolling list here of bars and restaurants opening indoors from May 17.

See the rest of our gallery below:

There have been 31 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and no COVID-related deaths on Monday, as restrictions eased further as part of the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 21 new cases in Lincolnshire, seven in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.

No coronavirus deaths were registered on Monday. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.

However, NHS England reported one new hospital death on Monday at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust for the first day in 10 days, bringing the Greater Lincolnshire total to 1,306 since the pandemic started.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking in the House of Commons on Monday confirmed fewer than 1,000 people are in UK hospitals with coronavirus.

National cases have increased by 1,979 to 4,452,756, while deaths have risen by five to 127,684.

Since Sunday, Greater Lincolnshire and England have seen a drop in their infections with rises in just three of the nine Greater Lincolnshire districts.

South Holland, Lincoln and North East Lincolnshire have all seen increases in their rates with the former now overtaking North Lincolnshire with the highest infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire.

Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to May 17 according to the government dashboard:

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Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, May 17

60,337 cases (up 31)

• 41,885 in Lincolnshire (up 21)
• 9,713 in North Lincolnshire (up seven)
• 8,739 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)

2,192 deaths (no change)

• 1,617 from Lincolnshire (no change)
• 307 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
• 268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,306 hospital deaths (up one)

• 813 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up one)
• 41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 451 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,452,756 UK cases, 127,684 deaths

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.

The custodians at the New Theatre Royal in Lincoln marked its reopening from the latest coronavirus lockdown by receiving the Lincoln Civic Award for 2020.

Natalie and Mike Hayes-Cowley were thrilled to receive the award, which couldn’t be officially presented last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The presentation came at an important time for the theatre, which marks its week of reopening with live performances of Strictly Cabaret X that can be seen on Fridays, May 21, May 28, June 11 and June 18, as well as Saturday, June 19.

The theatre is now looking to put the Civic Award on show to the public.

Giving out the award marked the final official engagement for the current Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Sue Burke.

She was accompanied by the Mayor’s Consort Councillor Chris Burke, City Sheriff Jo Rimmer and the Sheriff’s Consort Kraig Needs, along with the Civic Award trustees.

The new mayor, Councillor Jackie Kirk, and the incoming civic party are starting their year of office on Tuesday, May 18.

Natalie and Mike Hayes-Cowley follow in the footsteps of previous winners – outgoing University of Lincoln Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Stuart, and former Lincoln City managers Danny and Nicky Cowley, who won the awards in 2019 and 2018 respectively.

Artistic Director Natalie Hayes-Cowley said: “The whole theatre family is honoured to have been presented with the Lincoln Civic Award. Securing this prestigious accolade is beyond what we thought was possible when we became custodians of the theatre back in 2016.

“To be officially recognised as an organisation which has ‘brought credit to the City of Lincoln’ is simply wonderful.

“Like all our achievements, it is very much a team approach at the theatre. Without the passion, hard work, long hours put in by all our staff and our amazing front of house volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to create this magical place that the people of Lincoln know and love.”

Managing Director Mike Hayes-Cowley said: “Being a Lincoln Civic Award winner puts the theatre amongst some incredibly successful people and businesses who have really given something extra to the City of Lincoln.

“We are elated to have at last received this award. This recognition for the theatre and the team behind it makes all the hard work worth it.

“We are delighted to have been visited by Lincoln’s outgoing Civic Party and to have had the award presented by the (outgoing) Mayor Councillor Sue Burke just days before we welcome back theatregoers – thanks to the lifting of the Coronavirus restrictions. We hope they are going to love our sparkling show Strictly Cabaret X.”

Lincoln Civic Award Trustees Chairman Henry Ruddock said: “This award was agreed before the pandemic struck. But only now – fifteen long months later – have we been able to present it.“

“But what an opportunity it has been for recognition, encouragement and optimism. Viva Theatre Royal!, Viva Lincolnia!”

Coronavirus vaccines will be offered to those aged 36 and over from Tuesday.

The latest move was confirmed by health secretary Matt Hancock during an announcement in the House of Commons on Monday.

Texts inviting people to book a vaccination will be sent to those aged 37 on May 18, and to 36-year-olds on May 19.

The news comes against a backdrop of a surge in cases of a more transmissable Indian variant of the virus.

Mr Hancock told MPs the UK had the highest vaccination enthusiasm in the world.

He said the approach so far had saved around 12,000 lives and prevented 32,000 people from being hospitalised.

Mr Hancock said there were now fewer than 1,000 people in hospital and the average daily number of deaths was now nine.

However, he urged people to get their vaccine as soon as possible.

Priority will be given to second jabs for under-50s and first jabs for those over 50 who have been hesitant.

Mr Hancock confirmed there were 2,323 cases of the Indian variant in the UK, adding the majority in hospital were those who had not yet had the chance to have, or who had refused the vaccine.

Official government figures for Lincolnshire, released on Thursday, showed that more than 71.3% of residents had had their first jab and 36.1% their second.

Altogether 676,851 jabs have taken place in the county between December 8 and May 9 — a further 42,145 in the previous seven days, and nearly 10% up on the 38,553 jabs given the week before.