Some of the Norfolk pubs and restaurants which have had makeovers in lockdown.
- Credit: Various
With bar stools empty and their doors shut, landlords around Norfolk and Waveney have used time in lockdown for a spring clean.
When businesses shut in the new year, walls were repainted and tired areas freshened up, with outdoor areas in particular a focus.
And while we ve been able to sample upgraded beer gardens and new decking since April 12, we ve only had a glimpse of changes inside from Facebook (or while on our way to the loos).
But now the prime minister has confirmed that step three of the lockdown easing can go ahead, from May 17 restaurants and pubs will once again be able to reopen.
Some of the dishes from Oishii Street Kitchen in Norwich.
- Credit: Lauren Cope
As we moved from Tier 4 into another lockdown at the start of January, I think we were all after a little something to brighten up a gloomy start to 2021.
I ve always turned to food for comfort - be it a warming plate of sausage and mash, a day of cooking to distract the mind or the ease of a takeaway after work.
Last week, it was the latter and, fearing a rush in demand from like-minded folk, I prebooked with Oishii Street Kitchen on its app.