Drinkers hit in the town in Wales and Manchester for last boozy night before fresh lockdowns

REVELLERS in Wales and Manchester hit the town on Thursday night ahead of strict new lockdowns.

Party-goers packed into bars and clubs in major cities to make the most of what could be their last big night out for some time.

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On Friday at 6pm, all of Wales will go into a 17-day 'firebreak' lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus.

All non-essential shops, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels will be forced to shut altogether during the restrictions.

And supermarkets will be able to sell just 'essential' items - prompting shoppers to rush out for goods after the government was unable to clarify what would be classed as a must-have.

Welsh people will be ordered to stay at home unless they're exercising or have vital reasons to leave for the duration of the shutdown.

Friends dressed up to make the most of the night and spend money in the country's bars and pubs.

Manchester is also heading into a tier three lockdown after talks between mayor Andy Burnham and Boris Johnson failed this week - over just £5million.

Mr Burnham had asked for £65m from the Government to ensure businesses forced to shut - like pubs and bars - will have support to keep going.

But the PM wouldn't budge from a £60m offer - and this week, it was announced that the region will head into stricter measures, despite the objections of local chiefs.

Small groups of young people were last night seen heading into pubs or sitting outside.

But some licensed premises stood empty ahead of the 10pm curfew.

Nearly 2,000 pubs are expected to shutter unless they serve 'substantial meals' in a huge blow to the economy.

Around 2.8 million people in Greater Manchester will join 3.1 million in Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region already under tier three.

Social mixing will be banned both indoors and in private gardens - meaning meeting a friend for a drink or heading home with a casual lover can't happen.

The 'rule of six' will apply in some outdoor settings such as parks, public gardens and sports courts.

Local leaders help the Government to determine whether other venues like gyms or casinos should be closed. 

In Greater Manchester, the new measures could lead to the closure of more than 1,800 pubs and 140 wine bars, as well as 277 betting shops and 12 casinos, according to the real estate adviser Altus Group. 

The British Beer and Pub Association says the restrictions will have a "devastating impact on pubs, brewers and their wider supply chain".

An official from the organisation said the "survival of all pubs is hanging perilously in the balance". 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced more support for the stricken sector.  

The Treasury's new package includes making the Job Support Scheme, which replaces the current furlough system, more generous and grants of £2,100 available for firms in tier two areas of England.

Payments will be backdated to August.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed the news.

Chief executive Tom Stainer said: "Pubs in areas under tier two restrictions felt like they had the worst of all worlds, with additional restrictions reducing trade further but without receiving additional support – so these new financial support packages, which CAMRA had called for, will be warmly welcomed by the beer and pubs sector."

Mr Burnham yesterday invited Boris Johnson to the city for face-to-face talks to "clear the air".

He says he doesn't want a "lingering political argument" with the PM.

And during a press conference at Downing Street, Mr Johnson denied he had 'gone to war' with Mr Burnham and other leaders in the North.

"What we are doing now is bringing forward measures that are designed to help businesses that can't trade as they normally would and who are experiencing a fall in income," he said.

Another 21,242 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK - a drop of 5,000 on Wednesday's highest-ever daily total.

Despite that, cases have risen 12 per cent week-on-week - with Wednesday seeing 26,688 positive tests.