Thursday the new Friday as UK returns to office for ‘core’ midweek days

City centres are gradually getting busier, but it is likely some degree of remote working is here to stay

• Hybrid working grew in Great Britain even as Covid rules eased

On a balmy Thursday evening, workers in office attire spill out on to the pavements of bars, pubs and restaurants in central London. They are part of a new trend in the flexible world of work: Thursday is the new Friday.

Office-based staff are increasingly returning to their city centre desks, but only for part of the week. Many are opting to commute to their workplaces during the core" midweek days - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - bookending the working week at home.