BANK holidays are treasured in the North-East and North Yorkshire, but Covid meant we couldn't make the most of them last year.

The Prime Minister and scientific advisors are hoping to return to some sort of normality by spring 2021, just in time for Easter bank holiday. 

While there will still likely be rules to keep Covid cases down, the approval and rollout of vaccines have many filled with optimism and planning activities in efforts to make back for lost time with friends and family. 

The region's night-time economy also sees a daytime boost on sunny bank holidays as residents flock to beer gardens, which will be much-needed after months of closure under the tiered Covid system and lockdowns. 

They are also perfect for exploring the North-East and North Yorkshire's countryside and coastal beauty spots, with Seaburn, Roker and Saltburn beaches close by.

Roseberry Topping, North Yorkshire Moors and Northumberland are also on the doorstep, making for great hikes and country walks. 

Boris Johnson also said he hoped that by spring of 2021, many coronavirus restrictions would have “receded into the past”.

“If we’re right and the vaccination programme does have the positive effects that we think it can have, and I stress these are ifs, then clearly a lot of the non-pharmaceutical interventions…will recede into the past,” he said.

“We’ll be able to do things very differently.”

The prime minister added that the public may need to carry on with “basic disciplines” such as washing hands and wearing masks “for a while after”.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, reiterated his optimism for spring and "into the summer" when asked for a timeline for when people could go to restaurants or book a holiday. 

He said: “Like everybody, I’m hoping that when we get into the spring and into the summer we will be able to get more back towards those normal ways of life.

“But there’s no doubt at the moment that infection rates are high, the NHS is under severe pressure, particularly in London and parts of the South East where the new variant has been accelerating in transmission, and of course in the rest of the country we’re also seeing pressures and of course the new variant has begun to spread.”

Here's when all the bank holidays will fall in 2021: 

New Year 2021

Friday, January 1

Easter 2021

Good Friday, April 2

Easter Monday, April 5

May Bank Holiday 2021

Monday, May 3

Spring Bank Holiday 2021

Monday, May 31

Summer Bank Holiday 2021

Monday, August 30

Christmas and New Year 2021/2022

Monday, December 27*

Tuesday, December 28*

Monday, January 3, 2022

*Holidays in lieu for Christmas and Boxing Day which falls on the weekend.