The long wait is over. Thousands of pubs across England have opened their doors for the first time in more than three months, as the country eased its coronavirus lockdown.

"It's great to be back out, obviously supporting local businesses as well and just great to see friends and enjoy a nice freshly poured pint," said Jessie Lucas, a customer at a north London pub.

Cinemas, hotels, libraries, hair salons and restaurants are also reopening, but some businesses like indoor gyms and beauty salons will have to stay shut.

"Britain's pubs and bars alone employ almost half a million people, which is why it's such good news that so many people are able to return to work this weekend," said Rishi Sunak, the UK's finance minister.

The reopening of large parts of the hospitality industry is a significant psychological milestone for a country that's been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But it's also important economically.

Employing around three million people, the hospitality industry could prove crucial in any economic recovery, especially in an era when jobs elsewhere are being rapidly cut.

Some people queued for pubs to open on Saturday, but initial turnout at venues could be muted. Prime minister Boris Johnson has urged people to "act responsibly" and there are still concerns about the spread of the virus.

In London's Chinatown, which has been particularly hard hit by fears over COVID-19, local businesses handed out free masks, sanitizers and other protective equipment. This acts as a small gesture aiming to reassure consumers that it is safe to return to shops.

"About 30 percent of restaurants in Chinatown are open today. By the end of the month, we expect that to rise to over 80 percent," said Lawrence Lee, spokesman for London's Chinatown.

After months of lockdown, millions of people in England will be welcoming Saturday's easing of measures. It's certainly not business as usual, as traders will need to ensure their businesses follow government guidelines and are "COVID-secure."

It's a strategy that's laced with risks, but with the economic cost of the virus rising by the day, officials have had to balance the threat of COVID-19 with the longer-term damage of businesses staying shut.

Check out The Pandemic Playbook, CGTN Europe's major investigation into the lessons learned from COVID-19.