Thousands of partygoers crowded nightclubs and bars across the country for the first weekend since restrictions ended last Monday.
In large party centers across the UK, large numbers of young people have been observed taking advantage of the lifting of restrictions after Freedom Day and before the introduction of the proposed vaccination certificates, which could become mandatory from September.
Many undoubtedly woke up feeling the effects of a heavy Saturday night – something they haven’t seen in 16 months as the end of Covid restrictions meant nightclubs, pubs and bars can now open their doors.
Hundreds took part in the first post-lockdown Otley Run, a well-known pub crawl in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on Saturday night
The streets of Leeds were full and crowded – with no mask in sight as the night owls mingled with the Otley Runners on Saturday night
In front of Heaven nightclub in London, the queues stretched as far as the eye could see as nightlife returned to the capital
Pictures taken in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds showed revelers line up in front of clubs, pubs and bars as nightlife resumes in these cities.
Masks were almost forgotten when hundreds took part in the first Otley Run after the lockdown, a well-known pub crawl in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
As a rite of passage for students visiting or studying Leeds, participants can often be seen in costume as they visit 16 pubs along the 1.5 miles (1.5 mile) route.
The night owls enjoyed the warm Saturday night air and enthusiastically wore their way through the streets of Manchester
Manchester city center was full of crowds going to the bars as nightlife returned for the first weekend in 16 months
For some, the night turned out to be too much, the partygoers took off their shoes and preferred to go barefoot
Hundreds gathered outside Manchester venues as the hospitality industry opened its doors and welcomed customers
Queues took to the streets in Manchester on the first weekend after Freedom Day, when restrictions finally ended
No mask was in sight as young people gathered to celebrate the end of restrictions outside this Manchester nightclub
In Manchester, the night owls carried each other through the streets and walked hand in hand on the way to their destination on Saturday night.
Some, tired from letting go of hours, simply took off their shoes and walked barefoot on the sidewalk.
As another sign of the end of the restrictions, hen party groups – ahead of weddings that are now open to resume – have been spotted in town.
A party-goer takes a break in the cooler air outside Heaven nightclub in London, where hundreds are crowding into the venue
Hen parties were once again seen on the streets of Manchester as another sign of the easing of restrictions and the resumption of weddings
The first weekend after Freedom Day came as Figures from the NHS England show that one in three 18 to 29 year olds has not yet taken a first dose of Covid-19 Vaccine – although the virus is widespread in this age group, more than 1 in 100 between the ages of 20 and 29 tested positive last week.
Around three million young adults in the UK still need to be vaccinated, although all over 18s have been eligible since June 18.
Public Health England announced earlier this week that the number of cases among those over 20 years old has been higher than any age group since the pandemic began.
There was a smile all around as these partiers enjoyed a Saturday night in Manchester with no Covid restrictions
No masks and no social distancing as these partygoers enjoyed a big night out in Manchester city center on Saturday
To curb the growth of the virus, the government plans to make vaccine passports mandatory in clubs from September – but the proposal was not welcomed by everyone.
HHospitality chiefs, MPs and civil liberties activists have slammed the idea.
There are also growing fears that the hospitality industry, seeking to recover from the months of closure, could fall victim to a personnel crisis thanks to the “pingdemic”, whereby the hospitality industry is not exempt from the rules of self-isolation.
Stewards in safety vests keep the long line of smiling revelers tidy outside Heaven nightclub in London
A total of 31,795 new cases were reported across the UK on Saturday, according to Public Health England (PHE) data.
This was the fourth straight day that cases have decreased, down 42 percent from last week.
Across the UK, according to PHE, 46,519,998 people received their first dose of a vaccine and 36,953,691 received their second dose.
Experts are closely monitoring the effects of the lockdown being lifted, and some predict that cases will continue to rise through the fall and could top 100,000 in a week.
Queues crept into the capital’s streets as London nightlife returned for the first weekend in 16 months with restrictions lifted
A party-goer takes a break on Broad Street, Birmingham as the city’s nightclubs and bars came back to life on Saturday
