Where are the riders in England? Eid & Lockdown Lifting
Celebration is in the air this week. We’ve had so-called ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July, with most Covid restrictions lifting in England, and Muslims marking the major Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Taken together, this should mean more people out and about, and so more opportunities to maximise your earnings.
To help you find the best rider hotspots, here’s a list of some of the local community events being held around the UK to celebrate Eid al-Adha, plus the places that have started to open up once again after being closed for so long.
The following information is correct at the time of writing on 19 July 2021. Before you head out, check the latest restrictions where you are from official government sources.
Eid al-Adha: What’s happening where you are
Eid al-Adha, also known as ‘big Eid’ or ‘greater Eid’, is particularly special this year. Individuals and families will be able to celebrate it together, both indoors and outdoors, rather than having to mark it under lockdown restrictions as they did last year.
Because it is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha (meaning the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’) is celebrated on different days depending on the sighting of a new moon, with different communities and countries following different sightings.
It is generally being celebrated in the UK throughout this week.
Some of the main prayer events have been held earlier this week, such as the Celebrate Eid event at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
But there are still celebrations and festivals happening locally over the next few days.
In London, it’s the last day of the 1Eid three-day festival on 22 July. The remaining events take place between 4pm and 9pm at three locations:
- Goodmayes Park in East London
- Southall Park in West London
- Wardown Park in Luton
There will also be a post-Eid event weekend on 24 and 25 July starting at 1pm at Wardown Park, with fireworks at 9.30pm on 24 July at Popes Meadow.
In Sheffield, there is an Eid Festival on 24 July at the U-Mix Centre in Lowfield, and a festival and charity fundraiser on 25 July at the heliport/Parkwood Springs.
Some celebrations are also extending into August. MACFEST (Muslim Arts and Cultural Festival) is joining up with the Greater Manchester Walking Festival on 7 August. There’ll be a walk starting at Manchester Central Victoria Mosque, and cultural activities at The Whitworth Art Gallery. The event runs from 11am – 4pm.
Lockdown lifting: Rider hotspots
With most Covid restrictions in England now lifted, we may see demand for activities that were off-limits during lockdown.
Theatres are now open to full audiences for the first time in 16 months, while nightclubs have also reopened.
Festivals are able to go ahead, though some music festivals had to cancel before official confirmation came about restrictions lifting. Among those going ahead are:
- Latitude Festival, 22 – 25 July, Henham Park, Suffolk
- Wilderness, 5 – 8 August, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
- Camp Bestival, 29 July – 1 August, Lulworth Castle, Dorset
- Reading & Leeds – 27-29 August, Little John’s Farm (Reading) and Bramham Park (Leeds)
There are also no limits on sports events.
Over the next few weeks, racecourses such as Cheltenham, Ascot, Goodwood and Aintree are likely to be a good source of rides, as well as nearby train stations. For cricket fans, a new competition called The Hundred is taking place between 21 July and 21 August across seven cities and eight cricket grounds:
- Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Emerald Headingley, Leeds
- Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- Lord’s, London
- Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
- Ageas Bowl, Southampton
- Kia Oval, London
- Trent Bridge, Nottingham
As pubs no longer have to offer table service only in England, there may be more riders going out to watch sports events and fixtures, such as the Tokyo Olympics on 23 July – 8 August, and the Rugby Union South Africa v British and Irish Lions test series on 24 and 31 July and 7 August.
As much as we would like it though, life isn’t quite back to normal yet. Some local authorities are keeping face masks in place, and the government is advising caution as lockdown lifts in England and as Covid cases continue to climb.
And don’t forget Uber’s ‘no mask, no ride’ policy – everyone using the Uber app is asked to wear a face covering, unless exempt. If your passenger is not wearing a mask, you have the right to cancel the trip. Equally, if you, the driver, arrive without wearing a face covering, your rider also has the right to cancel the trip. Here’s a reminder of the PPE you need to keep you and your riders safe while you’re out on the road.
At INSHUR, we’re always looking for ways to help our drivers. To get your private hire insurance sorted quickly, check out our coverage options today.
Sources:
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/when-eid-adha-2021-dates-21049840
https://www.theweek.co.uk/55587/eid-al-adha-when-is-greater-eid-and-how-is-it-celebrated
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/eid-ul-adha-2021-celebrations-21066145
https://www.radiox.co.uk/festivals/which-festivals-are-going-ahead-2021/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56251016
