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Bucket hats and shutter shades at the ready: the clubs are finally reopening and, yes friends, you’re going to be there. So are your other friends. And so are we. We’re all going to be there and it’s going to be great.
Following weeks of speculation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month confirmed that the final stage of the UK’s reopening will be pushed back until July 19. That was a delay of four weeks from the June 21 date that was initially proposed as the earliest possible end to all lockdown measures.
It had been hoped that pubs, theatres, bars and restaurants would finally be able to operate without capacity limits. But the UK government has delayed the fourth stage of reopening – meaning that for now, the rules have stayed pretty much as they have been since May 17.
Not for much longer. The prime minister today announced the government would continue with its plan to remove most restrictions on social contact from July 19. And after various official test club events produced positive results – like this one we went to in Liverpool – that means nightlife will finally be making its triumphant return.
There’s only one caveat: we’ll have to wait until July 12 to find out whether the government is definitely going ahead with the move. Which it looks like it totally is, right?
The Night Time Industries Association, which represents clubs across the country, said: ‘We have been encouraged by much of what the prime minister said today about what government restrictions will look like in the next phase of reopening. The end of social distancing; no ban on mass events; and the decision not to introduce Covid status certification – these are all very important steps that we have been campaigning for.’ Quite. Here’s hoping venues pack out to full capacity later this month once again.
How will the latest lockdown delay affect you? Here’s everything we know.
And what does it mean for theatres? Here’s everything we know about that too.