Now lockdown has been extended, our holiday with friends has been dealt a big blow

This was to be the summer of Friends: The Reunion – not just because of the long-awaited return of the sitcom, which aired last month, but because, after more than 18 months of lockdowns, variants and travel restrictions, friendship groups would be able to reunite and holiday together.

But Boris Johnson’s postponement of the lifting of restrictions in the UK has cast groups of friends across the nation, including mine, into their own episode of the world-famous series: The one where they messed up our holiday.

In a similar vein to Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross, some of my best holiday memories have been made whilst in the company of friends. A trip to Santorini, spent exploring the island on mopeds and watching one couple wed on a clifftop, a girls’ break to Marbella, complete with inflatable flamingo, cocktails and tapas, and a long weekend in Lithuania, for another wedding and a crash course in how Eastern Europeans like to party (hard).

Going on holiday with friends is a rite of passage – you discover each other's bad habits, you share secrets in the early hours after drinking the bar dry and you make memories that cement your lifelong kinship.

When you reach your late twenties, like myself, these trips are even more sacred – as friends begin to marry off and children loom in not-too-distant future plans, friend-cations become a lot more complicated, often falling by the ‘we’re just too busy’ wayside.

Combine this ticking life clock with the fact that it’s been well over a year since groups have been able to revel, restriction-free, in each other's company and that’s why I was looking forward to my July getaway to the Lake District, with my partner and six of our friends, more than ever.

Now our plans are in tatters, like those of so many others across the nation, after Boris Johnson postponed ‘freedom day’ by a month.

“Disappointing,” “questionable” and “a shame” is how those in the industry have described the news of our delayed freedom – many operators and property owners had a “healthy” amount of bookings for large groups in the coming weeks, that now must be cancelled or rearranged.

While we have options (see below), I would argue they’re somewhat redundant. As a gang of child-free couples the thought of rebooking for later in the summer, when the Lake District will be overrun by families, is neither desirable nor practical – the availability simply isn’t there. The same applies to switching our booking to two smaller properties, ideally neighbouring – we’ve got as much luck at securing a reservation as Ross did at convincing Rachel they were ‘on a break’.

Our other option is to wait until Autumn or (sob) even Christmas, but the prospect of waiting that long to spend some quality time with my best pals is soul destroying – life has been on hold for long enough already. Plus, we had plans of spending days on the water, kayaking, boating and wild swimming, in the fells, exploring the Wainwrights – these activities will be less appealing if we rearrange to a month when the weather is putting its winter layers on, even as outdoorsy types.

As a group of eight we could un-invite one couple (or hope they are suddenly double booked) – but that has to be the last resort. I don’t envy larger friendship circles and multi-household families for whom cutting the guest list could spell months of ‘did you have a nice time without us?’ tension.

Right now, our most viable option, as we’re reluctant to cancel or rearrange, is to draw straws to choose which of the couples will have to camp, either close by or in the properties grounds (if permitted). We’ve agreed as a group we’d happily socialise outdoors for the entire time – if the weather holds that won’t be a chore. We’ll take extra testing precautions and for further comfort the entire group has had at least one dose of the vaccine.

So chin up dear friends, Boris Johnson’s decision to “pivot!” his roadmap might have left us in a cruel state of flux (again), but just like squeezing a sofa up a narrow staircase (à la Ross, Rachel and Chandler) there are ways to make this work – it can still be the summer of the great reunion.

Latest advice

Plans may have been torn at the seams but there are ways to salvage your group holiday.

Will I have to cancel?

Operators and property owners are now contacting groups impacted by the delay in lifting restrictions. As a general rule groups with bookings that sit outside the new rules will have the option to cancel and receive a refund or voucher, reschedule to a later date or reduce their group size so that it falls within the rules.

Is there availability to rearrange?

Groups are likely to be offered the chance to rearrange, but this might not be as easy as picking your preferred date (post July 19) and destination. Much of the UK’s self-catered accommodation is oversubscribed for the coming months, especially during the summer school holidays and in the most popular hotspots.

Of the agents and providers The Telegraph contacted, Booking.com was the only one to make positive noises about the chance of booking a self-catered large-group trip in the summer. “There is still availability for August and beyond with accommodation options to meet all traveller preferences and budgets,” said a spokesperson, who advised groups to choose accommodation with free-cancellation policies, given the ongoing uncertainty.

Self-catering specialists Beach Retreats was more candid and warns: “To be honest, for those who wish to visit later in the year it will be tough. Even October is now over 85 per cent booked across our portfolio of 200-plus holiday homes in Cornwall and 2022 is booking fast – more than double the rate of 2021 at this point last year.”

Premier Cottages is fully booked for the school holidays. “Unless we get cancellations people will find it tricky to rebook for this summer. Those wanting to defer their breaks might be better off looking at combinations of smaller properties on the same site,” said Beth Bailey, chair and marketing director.

This is a piece of advice echoed across operators, some of whom are seeking to increase the number of smaller properties on their books and offer these to large groups instead. “There’s still time for smaller bookings of two households though – if you act fast,” said Andrew Easton, managing director of Beach Retreats, which is adding new properties, with availability for summer, to its booking system shortly.

Otherwise, think about postponing your trip for the foreseeable future. “For the best selection of properties, we’d urge holidaymakers to look at September and beyond. Christmas is always a great time to get a large group together, or if it’s a summer holiday you are after, then our properties are open for 2022 bookings,” said Martin Wickham, sales director for Original Cottages, who says the company has “some availability for August, but it is selling very fast.”

Will we be breaking the law if we go ahead with our plans?

Until July 19 it continues to be forbidden for groups of over six, or more than two households, to meet indoors or stay overnight in a property together – if you break the rules you could face a visit from the police and a fine.

Are operators and property owners policing the new rules?

The general consensus is that checks are in place to ensure that groups are abiding by the rules – details of all guests are taken before arrival and groups of over six are now being contacted to check they sit within the rules. Beach Retreats admits the onus is on holidaymakers to be honest: “There is a degree of trust in guests to follow the rules and disclose full details.”

“We tell them what the rules are but we are not the police so can only ask that they stick to the rules,” said Bailey, from Premier Cottages.

What other options do I have?

You could opt for a break under canvas. Thanks to a relaxation of regulations there’s wealth of new pop-up campsites springing into life across the UK. These are offering last-minute availability and hoards of open space for large groups to try to salvage their plans in the coming months. “With locations including stately homes, pubs, vineyards and farms, it’s an opportunity to stay somewhere that wouldn’t otherwise be accessible,” said Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com.

If you are flexible on your choice of destination, consider the UK’s cities, which are crying out for visitors while the masses flee to the coast and countryside. Merilee Karr, chair of the UK Short Term Accommodation Association and CEO of UnderTheDoormat suggests: “Consider city accommodation in close proximity for larger groups... to enjoy the sights and experiences without the crowds of international visitors that are usually there in the summer holidays.”