PUBS and restaurants flung open their doors to punters for the first time in months as lockdown measures continued to be eased.

The Government's roadmap out of Coronavirus restrictions meant indoor hospitality including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas reopened today.

It is a huge boost for the county's hospitality industry which supports thousands of jobs.

Regular customers at The Ambrose Hotel, Duke Street, Barrow, were pleased to have a pint back in their favourite pub again.

Lynda Henderson, landlady at The Ambrose Hotel, said: “It has been good to be open again.

“We have had a lot of our regulars back who said they were just looking forward to having a proper pint again as it had been such a long time.

“I was a little bit nervous this morning because we have been shut since November 4 but we have had the hotel open for key workers.

“There has been a steady amount of customers today.

“It has been strange to open back up again.

“Hopefully we will see more and more people coming out for a drink.”

The Furness Railway pub also opened up its premises for customers on Monday.

Pub manager Robert Hope said: “It has been good. It’s been much busier than a normal Monday.

“I think a lot of people have been waiting to sit inside in the warm.

“We have had customers telling us that they are glad to be back in the building.

“We have a had a few bookings in the hotel as well.”

Colin Garnett, manager of Barrow Business Improvement District, is hopeful the town’s business can begin their recovery now that restrictions are relaxing.

“I think this is the first gate that gets a lot of businesses back to normality,” he began.

“The fact that you can now drink a coffee or eat a sandwich inside is a lot better than sitting outside.

“The recovery might not be instant with some businesses. We are going to have to entice people back.

“I am hoping that the pub industry will start to recover quickly. I know people will be missing a pint and it will be nice to see people drinking responsibly in again.”