Customers are taking full advantage of the re-opening of hotels and their restaurants from today, as more Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Indoor dining is now allowed in groups of up to six or two households after Boris Johnson approved the next phase of his roadmap out of lockdown last week.

Hotels and other tourist attractions - such as cinemas and museums - are also allowed to welcome back customers.

At the Best Western Clifton Hotel in Folkestone, nearly100 people are booked to enjoy a meal at its Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill today.

A further 300 people have also booked out one of the hotel's new dining domes in the coming days, which offer the experience of eating outside but in a dry and warm environment.

The pods, which sit up to eight people, include bluetooth speakers, fairy lights and a heater/cooler, meaning you can sit outside whatever the weather.

Neil Lomas, group general manager of Leaf Hotels, which runs the Clifton Hotel, said his team are excited to be able to open their doors once again to the general public.

Mr Lomas said: "If I'm looking at my restaurant diary, it says to me people can't wait to get back."

The hotel's 80 rooms are fully booked for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, with more people now opting for staycations due to the pandemic.

Mr Lomas praised the vaccine programme in the UK for allowing things to re-open.

The Clifton Hotel remained open throughout lockdown, offering a place to stay for key workers and people who need to travel for work - including the crew of several film productions.

Mr Lomas added: "We still have overheads whether we are open or closed.

"We still have costs that were going out of the business. So by having a few rooms open we still had some revenue coming in.

"But also, hotels are not meant to be closed.

"If we were to shut everything down it would take such a long time to turn all the heaters on, the boilers, all the systems that are not used to being shutdown to get them rebooted.

"Plus we were very fortunate to have several film crews that were using Kent for a location stay here the last three months which was brilliant."

KentOnline has previously reported how Danny Boyle's latest project, Pistols, was filmed in Folkestone and Dover.

And series two of BBC comedy drama, Back to Life, was also shot in the Folkestone district.

Daniel Sangiuseppe, director of CastleWood Hotels, which run the Best Western Plus Burlington Hotel, also in Folkestone, said it feels 'surreal' to open up again.

The family run hotel has been closed since last November.

Mr Sangiuseppe said: "We're excited.

"We're hoping we remember everything as it has been a long time. We've had a few training sessions going on behind the scenes."

Mr Sangiuseppe said time has been spent making sure the hotel is stocked up, cleaned and that everything is back up and running, adding: "The staff are really looking forward to dealing with customers again and welcoming them back."

The hotel, which has 60 rooms and is the only 4 star hotel in Folkestone, will be at a third full tonight, with this increasing to 70% at the weekend.

New measures have been put in place to encourage less contact between guests, for example, digital menus and restricted number of people in lifts.

Mr Sangiuseppe said the last 12 months have been a struggle, but said he is confident in what the hotel has to offer.

He also said Folkestone itself has a lot to offer, whether it is a place to eat or drink, to stay overnight, or a day out at its many tourist attractions.

He said: "Folkestone is a really up and coming special seaside town. You are spoilt for choice."

Nick Gauntlett, managing director at Hythe Imperial Hotel, said he is feeling "lucky" that the hotel is already proving busy.

He said: "We're fully booked. We also have a conference today and a wedding on Thursday.

"The weather isn't great but I've still done 20 afternoon teas today and we have a busy restaurant today and tomorrow.

"From my point of view, it's great we have opened. We still have to adhere to guidelines but it feels the right think to do."

Also opening today in the town is the Leas Lift Lockout Escape Room.

As well as providing a challenge for guests, the venture is also raising money for the town's cliffside Leas Lift, which has been in a state of repair for many years.

General Manager Jay Herridge has overseen the conversion of a former restaurant into what will be several Escape Rooms and an exhibition centre for the Leas Lift.

He said: "his is such an exciting project and a great opportunity for us to promote the work of the Leas Lift and to support their fund raising efforts."

Folkestone's Silver Screen cinema will re-open at the end of the month, and the Leas Cliff Hall theatre will re-open in June.

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