Chinese New Year celebrations are usually a spectacle to behold on the streets of the UK's big cities. They take place in full color and in front of large crowds.
But this year is different as most of Britain remains locked down – unsurprisingly, this has taken its toll on the UK's Lunar New Year festivities.
"This year ... will be so different from previous years," says Lawrence Lee from London's Chinatown Chinese Association.
"Because of the lockdown, we won't be able to carry out any celebrations, so we have to do it virtually," he adds.
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Lawrence and other organizers from the UK's Chinese community have promised a program of online festivities instead. But there are still some physical signs of Chinese New Year in the UK.
In London's Chinatown, red Chinese lanterns have been hoisted above several streets and amid the biting cold wind and snow flurries, the vibrant colors are helping to bring some cheer to the near-deserted streets.
A few restaurants are open, mainly delivering meals and offering takeaways. Others, such as Simon Tang's family eatery have closed until lockdown rules are relaxed.
"Normally, the Chinese New Year is our busiest day of the year, so it will be completely different," said Tang. "It will be the first time in business in London that we've not been open on the Chinese New Year."
Chinatown is usually one of London's main visitor attractions, making it very busy – especially when theatergoers and students mingle in its famous Gerrard Street, Wardour Street and Newport Place.
But despite a sizable Chinese community in London, boosted by thousands of university students, speciality supermarkets selling traditional delicacies are struggling.
Maggie Meijie Wu is a supervisor at one food shop and says income has dropped significantly despite changing their opening hours and offering home deliveries.
"Every day we've lost [business]," she says. "Before, on Chinese New Year, we had a lot of customers. This year, only a few. We've lost 70 percent."
This year, London's Chinese community will have to celebrate by staying in and eating with close friends.
"I'm staying with my roommate, so we are gathering together and we are celebrating together," said Nian Tong, a business student at King's College London.
Haipei Wang, another student at Imperial College in the capital, says he hopes to have dinner with a friend.
"I live alone, and basically I'm planning to travel to her place, but it's a lot different from back home, because there we can meet with family and usually we have a big family reunion back in China," he says.
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Last year, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a Chinese reception at Number 10 Downing Street after ushering a lively group of Lion and Dragon dancers into the building.
This year, he had to rely on a recorded message, in which he sent his best wishes to everyone celebrating Chinese New Year.
He also said, "a huge thank you to our British Chinese community for the incredible contribution you make to our country, consistently achieving so much in everything from education to business and medicine."
Lawrence Lee says he'll miss the bustle and color of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations in London: "Chinatown has never been so quiet through all these years. I must say it's actually very, very sad to see Chinatown so empty."
But with a broad smile, he also says there's some optimism, too.
It's the Year of the Ox – an animal in Chinese mythology that's connected to hard work, energy and diligence.
Hopefully such qualities will be able to return to the UK's Chinatowns in abundance – and for many restaurant owners, as quickly as possible.
Cover image: Apexphotos/Getty Creative/CFP