‘It’s like Covid II’: Canterbury’s student hangouts left empty by meningitis scare

‘It’s really, really quiet’: lots of Canterbury’s students have decided to head home for the holidays early. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

At The Cricketers pub in the centre of Canterbury, staff had been geared up for lively St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The pub’s “Paddy shots” were on offer: two for £7. Irish music played in the background. But, on Tuesday lunchtime, there were few revellers.

“Normally, as soon as the doors open on St Patrick’s Day, we’re full,” said the manager, Ash Bolonghe, casting his arm around the near-empty pub, with only a handful of customers. “But not today.”