Clubbers return to dancefloor for pilot event

Clubbers have been able to return to the dancefloor at a pilot event for 3,000 people.

Club night Circus hosted The First Dance in Liverpool, where revellers, who all had to produce negative coronavirus tests, did not have to wear face coverings or social distance for the first time since before lockdown began.

It is hoped the event, the first of two taking place on consecutive nights, will pave the way for clubs across the country to reopen their doors.

In the queue outside the venue, Liverpool University student Elliott Cause, 20, said: “I feel like this is a big moment for the UK.

“I feel like uni students have been struggling without this, I feel like this will do a lot.

“You can already see people are so up for it, the energy’s great.”

Sam Murphy, 20, who is from Belfast, said that after starting at Liverpool Hope University last September, he had the “worst freshers ever” because of coronavirus restrictions.

He said even tearing ligaments in his foot and having to wear a protective boot had not put him off attending the first club night since March 2020.

He said: “No chance – the first thing I said was give me a boot and let me out.”

Mr Murphy, from Belfast, said he had done a coronavirus test on Thursday and again on Friday morning and would take another in five days.

His friend Aodghan Fegan, 21, said: “I hope it all goes well and hope the Covid levels still stay low so there’s more events like this.”

Eighteen-year-old Leah Lawless said she and her friends had been waiting to return to clubs for around a year.

She said: “We are very excited. It’s been hard, it’s been boring, a bit sad, depressing and not the best.”

The line-up for Friday included Circus founder and DJ Yousef, Lewis Boardman and The Blessed Madonna.

Fatboy Slim is among the acts due to perform on Saturday.

Scientists will be looking to see whether crowds mixing and dancing indoors increases the risk of transmission of Covid-19.

Air quality and movement was also being monitored as part of a Loughborough University-led study to create clear guidance on how to design and operate non-domestic buildings to minimise risk.

The night is part of the Events Research Programme, which will also see crowds return to events including the FA Cup final and a music festival held in Liverpool’s Sefton Park.