Determined drinkers brave hail and torrential downpours to enjoy al fresco lunch

These two diners were hailed the ‘most determined in Britain’ after being spotted enjoying their lunch and a glass of wine despite being ‘head-to-toe drenched’ in rain and battered by hailstones.

The two mystery women were wearing coats, plastic waterproof ponchos and huddling under a solitary table covering as hail visibly hurtled down around them outside a restaurant in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon.

Passer-by Jenny Colebourn found it hilarious that the ladies had refused to cancel their dinner reservation despite the weather and couldn’t resist taking photos of them tucking into a bowl of chips – surrounded by otherwise empty tables.

The 24-year-old had been walking home through the normally bustling Cutting Room Square in Ancoats on one of the wettest days of the year so far when she spotted the ‘really funny’ sight, claiming it looked like a ‘piece of art’.

Taking out her camera, the product manager snapped the two ladies as they sat through the ‘torrential’ rain, with other restaurants having packed up for the day.

Ms Colebourn said: ‘They were head-to-toe drenched. It was really funny.

‘It was right in the middle of the massive hailstorm. It was torrential weather. Hail and really windy.

‘It’s true British style to be out there having a good time in all weathers. It’s so British to be like ”we’ve got our booking, we’re going to go”.

‘[The restaurant] had put out the tables, put up the umbrella, just for these two girls to sit under there.

‘I saw the server bringing out food. She ran out, put the food down on the table and the women were both sat there in absolute gales.’

The pair were eating garlic bread and chips, and nursed glasses of red wine, Ms Colebourn said.  

She added: ‘The square is normally heaving but there was no one there. I thought it looked incredible.

‘It just looked like a piece of art.’

One Manchester foodie Instagram account hailed the duo their ‘winners’ of people braving the bad weather while commenters praised them as ‘legends’ and said they ‘love their resolve’. 

Voters heading to the polls this morning are having to brace snow in some parts of the north, after a -5C freeze overnight.

People in areas of Yorkshire including Huddersfield, Halifax and Hebden Bridge, as well as Scottish towns like Inverness, are waking up to a changed landscape, as they prepare to cast their ballot.

A blizzard caused traffic woes on the A9 north of the border as others took to social media, incredulous at the sight of snow in May.

In the south, meanwhile, rain showers are expected to fall throughout the day, and for most of the rest of the week, with as much as 5-10mm falling in just an hour in the worst-affected spots.

However, a sunny weekend is on the horizon, with highs potentially pushing 70F by the end of the week – a welcome change for many following the recent dreary weather.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: ‘Sunday should be drier for most, with some showers in places, but in the south-east of England, temperatures could climb into the low twenties by the afternoon.

‘People should make the most of any dry or sunny spots, as it is unlikely to last and the rest of May will be unsettled and changeable for everyone.’