Bank Holiday weekend begins as revellers brave the cold to party in Leeds and Cardiff

BRITONS are braving the cold to hit the pubs, bars and streets in Leeds and Cardiff and party their way into the Bank Holiday weekend.

The revellers popped up their brollies and wrapped up in their blankets in a bid to overcome the weather, which was persistently cold and drizzly for many.

Punters in Cardiff were celebrating being out on the town for the first Friday since outdoor hospitality opened earlier this week.

People flocked to pubs, restaurants and bars with outdoor seating, most wrapped up warm for a chilly night, during which the temperature was expected to drop to 2C.

Meanwhile in Leeds, pubs were packed out for the beginning of what would be England’s third weekend of outdoor hospitality being back in action.

Images snapped on the streets of Leeds showed Brits sipping cocktails and beers outside pubs and bars.

Other images illustrated how the night continued for some revellers, with tipsy-looking drinkers partying on the streets, while wrapped in a blanket.

Elsewhere in England, boozers flocked to hospitality joints in Soho, in London’s city centre.

Images showed people enjoying a meal and a drink al fresco.

Many pubs, bars and restaurants had put up umbrellas and tents to protect their patrons from the drizzle.

Heaters could also be seen spotted around, to counteract the chilly Spring temperatures.

A moderate police presence could be seen in the background of pictures from Soho, presumably there to prevent excited drinkers from getting out of hand.