The Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the relaxation of a wide range of lockdown rules on Tuesday, including allowing restaurants to reopen with effect from July 4.

But, sadly, this is too late for Rohit Khattar’s Indian Accent in Albemarle Street, Mayfair, which had replaced Chor Bizarre, which in turn had taken over from Gaylord.

The restaurant proved a hit especially with Hollywood stars even before it had formally opened in London in late 2017.

A statement said that “IRL, the company which licensed brand Indian Accent in London, is deeply saddened to announce its permanent closure.

“This difficult decision was made as a last resort after carefully considering all the factors in play as a direct result of Covid-19. Social distancing would reduce the restaurant capacity to just 30 covers. This combined with the significant fixed costs as a result of operating on one of the most expensive streets in the world and the general economic uncertainty in the UK, means that the business is unviable at its current location.

“Chef Manish Mehrotra and the rest of the team hope to bring Indian Accent to London at a larger location at some point in the future.”

The Prime Minister, who is to take the last of the daily Downing Street news conferences, earlier told the Commons: “Today, we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end and life is returning to our streets and to our shops, the bustle is starting to come back and a new, but cautious, optimism is palpable.”

Where the two-metre rule cannot be applied it will be replaced with a “one metre-plus” measure, with the protection offered by the physical distance enhanced by other “mitigation measures” such as the use of face coverings, increased hygiene or layout changes in premises.

Boris added that the virus has not gone away and the government “will not hesitate to apply the brakes and re-introduce restrictions — even at national level — if required”.

Among the changes announced: pubs and restaurants will be limited to table service and will be asked to collect customers’ details so they can be traced if there is a coronavirus outbreak; hairdressers will be able to reopen with precautions including the use of visors; the domestic tourist industry will be boosted by the reopening of accommodation including hotels, bed & breakfast campsites along with most leisure facilities and attractions such as theme parks; outdoor gyms and playgrounds will be returned to use; and cinemas, museums and galleries will be allowed to open again.

In addition, places of worship will reopen, with weddings of up to 30 people allowed — although any receptions afterwards would be severely limited. as only one other household would be allowed to join the bride and groom.

But live performances at concert halls and theatres are also still banned, partly due to the risk posed by singing in spreading the virus.

The relaxation was welcomed by Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry: “The long and nervous wait for hoteliers, landlords and restaurateurs is now nearing an end. It will also be a joy that our cultural centres can slowly return to life. Easing social distancing rules will make a material difference to the viability of thousands of firms.”