Brits enjoyed another night out in Leeds and Blackpool before new restrictions came into force at midnight.
The Government put the two cities under local lockdown following a spike in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
People were seen crowding on pavements outside pubs and bars, while others had a drink or a meal with their friends.
Groups of drinkers were pictured in the street just hours before the new measures came into place.
Starting from midnight, people from different households are not allowed to socialise in the two cities, unless they are part of the same social bubble.
The Department for Health and Social Care has officially announced the local lockdowns yesterday following a spike in cases.
A spokesperson said: “From 00:01 tomorrow, residents in Wigan, Stockport, Blackpool and Leeds will no longer be allowed to mix with people outside their household or bubble in private homes, including gardens. This will be enforceable by law.
“Residents in these areas are advised not to meet people outside their household or bubble in any setting, whether a bar, shop or leisure facility – indoors or outdoors.
“As announced this week, childcare bubbles will be able to form in areas of intervention to allow families to share caring responsibilities with another household, as long as they are consistent. This includes formal and informal childcare arrangements.”
Pubgoers were also pictured in other cities including Liverpool and London as they enjoyed their Friday night out.
It is estimated that about 17 million people in Britain are now living under tougher restrictions than the rest of the country.
Yesterday it was also announced that London has been placed on the national lockdown watch list due to a rising number of positive Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions.
Government advisers have warned the capital's R rate - the rate of transmission of the virus - might be as high as 1.5, the same level seen in other parts of the country where new restrictions have been introduced.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "We continue to see an acceleration of Covid-19 cases across the country, especially in the North West and the North East.
"Working alongside our scientific and public health experts and local leaders, we are prepared to take swift and decisive action to reduce transmission of the virus and protect communities.
"I recognise the burden and impact these additional measures have on our daily lives but we must act collectively and quickly to bring down infections.
"We all have a part to play and I urge everyone to isolate and get a test if you have symptoms, follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace, and always remember ‘hands, face, space’.”"
This week, Boris Johnson also announced a 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants in a bid to curb surging infection rates as the UK spirals into a second wave of the virus.
Under the new rule, hospitality venues must make sure customers leave by 10pm.
They can also offer table service only under the restrictions that took effect on Thursday night.
Dr Arif Rajpura, director of public health for Blackpool Council, said the decision to bring Blackpool into line with the rest of Lancashire had been taken after close consultation with the Department of Health and Social Care, Lancs Live reports.
He said: “This time last week Blackpool was exempt from additional restrictions because our transmission rates were relatively low compared to other areas.
"Over the past few days, there has been a significant rise in infection rates across the UK and Blackpool has not been immune to that.
“In our case that has seen infection rates go from a rolling average of less than 40 last week to more than 60 this week.
“Analysis of those figures shows that a lot of our transmission has been in households in the residential areas of Blackpool.
"While the number of cases in hospital remains relatively low, it is appropriate that a restriction on household mixing should now be introduced to reverse the upward trend of positive cases.”