London restaurants are being "inundated" with inquiries about booking spaces for long delayed events ranging from wedding receptions to art gallery launches.
Operators say there is growing confidence that the effective ban on larger indoor celebrations that has been in place for more than a year will be lifted on June 21 in line with the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.
Paul Jackson, managing director at caterer and restaurateur Searcys, said: "The confidence is definitely returning. We have seen over a 30 per cent increase in event inquiries coming into our venues - two-thirds are for 2021, with private events like weddings, celebrations, and anniversaries prevailing.
"Searcys at the Gherkin, St Pancras Champagne Bar and the Conservatory at the Barbican are leading the way. We have also received the first corporate inquiries for summer parties, team building and company events, as well as the first Christmas parties in the past fortnight - and even some confirmations."
Charlie Gilkes, founder of Inception Group, which operates 11 venues in central London, said: "We are seeing a lot of demand for events in July and the end of the year. The biggest is a booking for a 200-person corporate event at Mrs Fogg's in Broadgate in the City."
Restaurateur José Pizarro, who runs restaurants in Bermondsey and the City, said he was waiting for final confirmation for a gallery opening reception for 60 to 70 people in August.
Sammie Ellard-King, at the Corrigan Collection, which runs Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill, said: "We have been inundated with private event inquiries over the past two weeks."