Shooshh on Brighton seafront reopens after Covid restrictions eased

Remaining coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England, allowing venues such as nightclubs to finally welcome back patrons.

Fireworks greeted the crowds at Shooshh on Brighton seafront last night.

Revellers were seen in large queues in hopes of getting inside the venue, which has not been able to fully open since the pandemic started last year.

Party-goers danced through the night inside the packed club where indoor sparklers were set off.

Nearly all remaining Covid restrictions have now been removed in England, including an end to social distancing rules.

This means there are no limits on how many people can meet and social distancing rules have been brought to an end.

The scrapping of measures comes as coronavirus cases surge across the UK.

In Brighton and Hove, daily new cases of Covid had plateaued since the start of July. However, there are now signs these are increasing again.

The highest case rates can be found in those aged between 15-29.

As of July 15, the rate per 100,000 residents in this age range in Brighton and Hove was 842.

That is compared to the England average of 399.

Elsewhere in the UK, excited revellers 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.

Some said they had “missed the buzz” of being out while others admitted they were already bored of queueing and needed the toilet.

Outside Egg nightclub in north London clubbers queued for more than an hour and cheered as the clock struck midnight, following a countdown from 10.

Fundraiser Chloe Waite, 37, who was first in the queue, said the occasion was “something we’re going to remember for a long time.”

“It’s going to be a special night,” she said.

“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.”

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’m so excited I’ve been waiting for this for so long … basically since we locked down,” he said.

“I love going to clubs and I love meeting random people. You make great friends and you couldn’t do that until tonight.”

He added: “I’ve been here for an hour, I’m really keen.”

The excitement was just as palpable in Leeds, where patrons queued to enter Bar Fibre.

“It feels so special,” said bar owner Terry George. “People are treating it like a very special occasion, like a New Year’s Eve type affair. Freedom Eve is what we’re calling it.

“Finally, we’re going to be able to dance. That’s the biggest thing, which is kind of a little bit sad really, because we’re given back something that’s our given right, to be able to dance in a bar, in a club.

“It should’ve been something that was there much earlier than this.”