Thousands to pack Liverpool nightclub as part of coronavirus mass gatherings pilot

30 April 2021, 07:24 | Updated: 30 April 2021, 15:38

Covid pilot clubbers get ready to party at Liverpool nightclub

By Ewan Quayle

@EQjourno

Thousands of people will be allowed to enjoy a traditional night out at a club in Liverpool as part of a pilot for mass gatherings following the coronavirus pandemic.

The Circus nightclub will welcome 6,000 people over two days for its 'The First Dance' event - the first time any such event has been allowed for over a year.

Around 3,000 party-goers will pile into the club from 2pm on Friday, with people told to take a coronavirus lateral flow test 24 hours before attending.

One clubber told LBC the event has "been a long time coming" and that he "feels very privileged" to be able to enter a nightclub after more than a year.

"We're going be first in and last out," he said, "we're staying on the dancefloor all day - not evening going to get a drink."

Tickets sold out for the both events on Thursday night and will allow entry until 6pm on Friday, with the event on lasting until 11pm.

The line-up over the two days includes Fatboy Slim, Jayda G and DJ Yousef Zahar - also co-owner of Circus Liverpool.

The event is part of the Events Research Programme (ERP), which will provide data on how events holding anywhere between hundreds and tens of thousands of people could safely reopen later this year.

Another clubber, Lucy, told LBC she was "a bit worried about my nan" but that she was reassured because everybody had been tested beforehand.

"It has been really hard only going on walks and stuff," she said, "so I'm so excited to be able to just dance with [my friends] again."

It follows the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium last weekend, where 8,000 fans were allowed to watch the match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and 4,000 were allowed entry to watch the FA Cup semi-finals.

Currently, the roadmap out of lockdown states that nightclubs could reopen on 21 June, provided the number of new infections, hospitalisations and deaths continues to fall across England.