Keen clubbers queued outside a north London nightclub for more than an hour and cheered as the clock struck midnight, following a countdown from 10.
Waiting outside Egg nightclub, people described the midnight reopening of nightclubs as “like new year” as they queued up for their first night out dancing since the start of the pandemic.
The remaining coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England on Monday, July 19, allowing venues to welcome back patrons.
Some partyers said they had “missed the buzz” of being out, while others admitted they were already bored of queueing and needed the toilet.
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Fundraiser Chloe Waite, 37, who was first in the queue, said the occasion was “something we’re going to remember for a long time".
“For me this is a New Year’s-type event and something we’re going to remember for a long, long time and we might not get the opportunity for a while,” she said.
Gabriel Wildsmith, 26, a video producer from London, who joined Ms Waite at the front of the line said he had missed “meeting random people” and making friends.
“I love going to clubs and I love meeting random people," he said. "You make great friends and you couldn’t do that until tonight.”
One woman waiting to go in, who gave her name as Dolores Frankenstein, said: “I don’t know if it’s going to be good, it might not be. It might be quiet, it might be busy, (but) I think it’ll be a bit overwhelming to be around so many people again.”
She added: “I’m a bit bored of queuing already.”
Little over an hour after the first guests entered, others were offered water and told by security members to sober up opposite the venue.
There were mixed feelings with regard to safety, with some admitting feelings of “apprehension” and others saying there was “zero” to worry about.
Actor Alex Clarke, 40, said: “There’s a bit of apprehension and uncertainty about the protocols.
“But as long as everyone is sensible then it’ll be alright.”
Kevin Ally, 45, who works in professional services, said: “I think we’re over-analysing it, it’s going to be awesome.
“There’s zero concern. The only concern is why we haven’t been here for a year and a half. It’s been a very long time since we’ve been out.
“It’s good to be back, and we’re here to dance.”
Additional reporting by Mike Bedigan, PA
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