It’s party time again! 6,000 clubbers in Liverpool return to dancefloor for pilot post-lockdown rave

It’s party time again! 6,000 clubbers in Liverpool return to dancefloor for Britain’s first post-lockdown rave (but doors open at 2pm and pre-drinks are replaced by Covid tests)

  • Thousands of revellers are returning to the dancefloor at the UK’s first post-lockdown ‘nightclub’ rave today 
  • But there will be tent of scientists outside the venue monitoring their behaviour at the two-day mini festival
  • Ravers had to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event and show negative result to release e-tickets
  • The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap’s plan to scrap social distancing on June 21 

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Thousands of revellers are returning to the dancefloor at the UK’s first post-lockdown ‘nightclub’ rave today – but there will be a tent of scientists outside monitoring their behaviour. 

Nightlife promoter Circus hosted The First Dance in Liverpool, where revellers did not have to wear face coverings or social distance for the first time since before lockdown began. 

DJs including Fatboy Slim will be playing to the ravers, who’ve had to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event in order to release their e-ticket, and have to produce a negative result to gain entry. 

They are then asked to take another test five days after the rave and submit the results.

Inside the Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse, crowds packed the floor to dance shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time in more than a year. Club-goers were seen hugging and kissing each other, with some sitting on others’ shoulders for a better view of the stage. 

Merseyside Police has even had to reassure concerned members of the public after receiving messages from people who saw footage of the non-socially distanced event.

The force said: ‘This is fortunately a legal event which is part of the pilot scheme.’

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. 

But critics say the event bears little resemblance to an actual club night, with the event starting at 2pm and revellers getting kicked out by 11pm.  

People involved in the trial do not need to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask, but must be over 18, live in the Liverpool City region and registered to a GP, and must be showing no signs of Covid-19 symptoms.

The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap’s plan to scrap social distancing on June 21. 

The club night is led by scientists, aided by researchers inside to ‘monitor’ crowds and study ‘behavioural’ responses of people after a year of social distancing.

A board of advisers, made up of independent scientists and public health experts, will assess the data and present results to Ministers at the end of May.

Confetti is fired into the crowd who are seen enjoying themselves during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse today in Liverpool

Confetti is fired into the crowd who are seen enjoying themselves during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse today in Liverpool

Confetti is fired into the crowd who are seen enjoying themselves during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse today in Liverpool

A crowd of revellers seen drinking beer and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Liverpool on Friday in the first post-lockdown rave

A crowd of revellers seen drinking beer and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Liverpool on Friday in the first post-lockdown rave

A crowd of revellers seen drinking beer and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Liverpool on Friday in the first post-lockdown rave

People enjoy their time at the nightclub in Liverpool as part of a national research programme assessing the risk of the coronavirus disease transmission today

People enjoy their time at the nightclub in Liverpool as part of a national research programme assessing the risk of the coronavirus disease transmission today

People enjoy their time at the nightclub in Liverpool as part of a national research programme assessing the risk of the coronavirus disease transmission today

One reveller drinks from a bottle of wine as she sits on someone's shoulders during the rave at The First Dance in Liverpool

One reveller drinks from a bottle of wine as she sits on someone's shoulders during the rave at The First Dance in Liverpool

One reveller drinks from a bottle of wine as she sits on someone’s shoulders during the rave at The First Dance in Liverpool

A crowd of ravers are pictured in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening during a nightclub rave test event

A crowd of ravers are pictured in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening during a nightclub rave test event

A crowd of ravers are pictured in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening during a nightclub rave test event

A woman is seen dancing and waving her arms from side to side as people dance and sit on on others' shoulders for a better view of the stage

A woman is seen dancing and waving her arms from side to side as people dance and sit on on others' shoulders for a better view of the stage

A woman is seen dancing and waving her arms from side to side as people dance and sit on on others’ shoulders for a better view of the stage

People enjoy themselves on the dance floor this evening at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse in Liverpool

People enjoy themselves on the dance floor this evening at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse in Liverpool

People enjoy themselves on the dance floor this evening at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse in Liverpool

A general view showing the crowd of revellers dancing in front of the stage inside a warehouse in Liverpool this evening

A general view showing the crowd of revellers dancing in front of the stage inside a warehouse in Liverpool this evening

A general view showing the crowd of revellers dancing in front of the stage inside a warehouse in Liverpool this evening

People hold up their phones during the event inside a warehouse in the city this evening, dancing shoulder to shoulder for the first time in more than a year

People hold up their phones during the event inside a warehouse in the city this evening, dancing shoulder to shoulder for the first time in more than a year

People hold up their phones during the event inside a warehouse in the city this evening, dancing shoulder to shoulder for the first time in more than a year

Ravers are seen towards the front of the crowd in Liverpool tonight. Three thousand people are expected at the event

Ravers are seen towards the front of the crowd in Liverpool tonight. Three thousand people are expected at the event

Ravers are seen towards the front of the crowd in Liverpool tonight. Three thousand people are expected at the event

One reveller is seen sat on someone's shoulders and holding up her phone during the test event in Liverpool today

One reveller is seen sat on someone's shoulders and holding up her phone during the test event in Liverpool today

One reveller is seen sat on someone’s shoulders and holding up her phone during the test event in Liverpool today

Two ravers are seen dancing together and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening

Two ravers are seen dancing together and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening

Two ravers are seen dancing together and enjoying their time at the nightclub in Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool, this evening

A crowd of revellers are seen enjoying themselves at the 'nightclub' rave event, which will be a key test of whether live events halted during the pandemic can reopen at full capacity as planned from the end of June

A crowd of revellers are seen enjoying themselves at the 'nightclub' rave event, which will be a key test of whether live events halted during the pandemic can reopen at full capacity as planned from the end of June

A crowd of revellers are seen enjoying themselves at the ‘nightclub’ rave event, which will be a key test of whether live events halted during the pandemic can reopen at full capacity as planned from the end of June

A man enjoys his time at the UK's first post-lockdown 'nightclub' rave today. The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap's plan to scrap social distancing on June 21

A man enjoys his time at the UK's first post-lockdown 'nightclub' rave today. The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap's plan to scrap social distancing on June 21

A man enjoys his time at the UK’s first post-lockdown ‘nightclub’ rave today. The trial events are designed to advance the reopening roadmap’s plan to scrap social distancing on June 21

Crowds packed the floor inside the warehouse to dance shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time in more than a year

Crowds packed the floor inside the warehouse to dance shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time in more than a year

Crowds packed the floor inside the warehouse to dance shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time in more than a year

Revellers stood at the front of the crowd pose for the camera during the event inside a warehouse in Liverpool this afternoon

Revellers stood at the front of the crowd pose for the camera during the event inside a warehouse in Liverpool this afternoon

Revellers stood at the front of the crowd pose for the camera during the event inside a warehouse in Liverpool this afternoon

A general view of the dance floor is pictured. The club night is led by scientists, aided by researchers inside to 'monitor' crowds and study 'behavioural' responses of people after a year of social distancing

A general view of the dance floor is pictured. The club night is led by scientists, aided by researchers inside to 'monitor' crowds and study 'behavioural' responses of people after a year of social distancing

A general view of the dance floor is pictured. The club night is led by scientists, aided by researchers inside to ‘monitor’ crowds and study ‘behavioural’ responses of people after a year of social distancing

A woman can be seen sat on someone's shoulders as people enjoy their time at the rave hosted by nightlife promoter Circus

A woman can be seen sat on someone's shoulders as people enjoy their time at the rave hosted by nightlife promoter Circus

A woman can be seen sat on someone’s shoulders as people enjoy their time at the rave hosted by nightlife promoter Circus

One reveller holds a bottle of wine up in the air as she sits on someone's shoulders during The First Dance event in Liverpool

One reveller holds a bottle of wine up in the air as she sits on someone's shoulders during The First Dance event in Liverpool

One reveller holds a bottle of wine up in the air as she sits on someone’s shoulders during The First Dance event in Liverpool

Clubbers in the UK return to the dance floor as Circus hosts the first dance event in Liverpool's Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

Clubbers in the UK return to the dance floor as Circus hosts the first dance event in Liverpool's Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

Clubbers in the UK return to the dance floor as Circus hosts the first dance event in Liverpool’s Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

A woman reacts to the camera as she sit on someone's shoulders and holds up her phone to record the event in Liverpool

A woman reacts to the camera as she sit on someone's shoulders and holds up her phone to record the event in Liverpool

A woman reacts to the camera as she sit on someone’s shoulders and holds up her phone to record the event in Liverpool

Revellers are seen inside the warehouse for a Covid safety pilot event attended by around 3,000 people

Revellers are seen inside the warehouse for a Covid safety pilot event attended by around 3,000 people

Revellers are seen inside the warehouse for a Covid safety pilot event attended by around 3,000 people

A group of women pose for the camera. People involved in the trial do not need to socially distance nor wear a mask

A group of women pose for the camera. People involved in the trial do not need to socially distance nor wear a mask

A group of women pose for the camera. People involved in the trial do not need to socially distance nor wear a mask

People make their way to the stage area. Data collected from the events will test the safety of large-scale gatherings ahead of government plans to lift nearly all restrictions on June 21

People make their way to the stage area. Data collected from the events will test the safety of large-scale gatherings ahead of government plans to lift nearly all restrictions on June 21

People make their way to the stage area. Data collected from the events will test the safety of large-scale gatherings ahead of government plans to lift nearly all restrictions on June 21

Two women react to the camera and one holds up her drink during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

Two women react to the camera and one holds up her drink during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

Two women react to the camera and one holds up her drink during the dance event at Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse

A general view of the bar area at the event, which is being held as part of the national Events Research Programme

A general view of the bar area at the event, which is being held as part of the national Events Research Programme

A general view of the bar area at the event, which is being held as part of the national Events Research Programme

Two women dance together as Circus hosts the test rave which will provide data on how events could be permitted to safely reopen

Two women dance together as Circus hosts the test rave which will provide data on how events could be permitted to safely reopen

Two women dance together as Circus hosts the test rave which will provide data on how events could be permitted to safely reopen

People make their way to the stage area as Circus hosts the first dance event, welcoming 6,000 clubbers to the city's Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse, today

People make their way to the stage area as Circus hosts the first dance event, welcoming 6,000 clubbers to the city's Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse, today

People make their way to the stage area as Circus hosts the first dance event, welcoming 6,000 clubbers to the city’s Bramley-Moore Dock warehouse, today

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, adding: ‘We are very excited. It’s been hard, it’s been boring, a bit sad, depressing and not the best.’

The sold-out pilot is part of the government’s ‘Events Research Programme’. Data collected from the events will test the safety of large-scale gatherings ahead of government plans to lift nearly all restrictions on June 21.

Circus co-owner DJ Yousef Zahar told the BBC it hoped to return to ‘pre-Covid conditions’, with revellers eventually able to enjoy themselves without social distancing, masks or alcohol rules. 

‘It’s very exciting but of course there’s a really serious point to all this to be able to take the information and the data… (and) move forward hopefully with a view to do the 21st of June,’ he said. 

Temporary venues have been prepared for the two-day event in the city, including a tent for scientists to monitor behaviour.

A woman gestures as she stands outside a nightclub ahead of the event which is being held as part of a national research programme

A woman gestures as she stands outside a nightclub ahead of the event which is being held as part of a national research programme

A woman gestures as she stands outside a nightclub ahead of the event which is being held as part of a national research programme

Three women shield themselves from the rain as they enjoy their time outside the nightclub in Liverpool this afternoon

Three women shield themselves from the rain as they enjoy their time outside the nightclub in Liverpool this afternoon

Three women shield themselves from the rain as they enjoy their time outside the nightclub in Liverpool this afternoon

A woman reacts to the camea as Circus hosts the first dance event, which will welcome 6,00 clubbers, in Liverpool today

A woman reacts to the camea as Circus hosts the first dance event, which will welcome 6,00 clubbers, in Liverpool today

A woman reacts to the camea as Circus hosts the first dance event, which will welcome 6,00 clubbers, in Liverpool today

Some revellers hit the pre-drinks early ahead of the event which kicked off at 2pm today

Some revellers hit the pre-drinks early ahead of the event which kicked off at 2pm today

Some revellers hit the pre-drinks early ahead of the event which kicked off at 2pm today 

Girls were ready to hit the dancefloor at the pilot event this afternoon

Girls were ready to hit the dancefloor at the pilot event this afternoon

Girls were ready to hit the dancefloor at the pilot event this afternoon 

Revellers donned their bucket hats and flares for the rave at the Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool

Revellers donned their bucket hats and flares for the rave at the Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool

Revellers donned their bucket hats and flares for the rave at the Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool

People involved in the trial will not need to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask

People involved in the trial will not need to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask

People involved in the trial will not need to socially distance from strangers nor wear a mask

Attendees must live within a Liverpool postcode and will take a Covid-19 lateral flow test which must be negative before they can gain entry to the club

Attendees must live within a Liverpool postcode and will take a Covid-19 lateral flow test which must be negative before they can gain entry to the club

Attendees must live within a Liverpool postcode and will take a Covid-19 lateral flow test which must be negative before they can gain entry to the club

Revellers at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool this afternoon for the first nightclub rave

Revellers at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool this afternoon for the first nightclub rave

Revellers at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool this afternoon for the first nightclub rave

Ticketholders have to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event and will have to produce a negative result to gain entry, before taking another test and submitting the results next Wednesday

Ticketholders have to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event and will have to produce a negative result to gain entry, before taking another test and submitting the results next Wednesday

Ticketholders have to take a lateral flow test 24 hours before the event and will have to produce a negative result to gain entry, before taking another test and submitting the results next Wednesday

Lads on tour: Youngsters downed what appeared to be water before they went into the venue

Lads on tour: Youngsters downed what appeared to be water before they went into the venue

Lads on tour: Youngsters downed what appeared to be water before they went into the venue

The sold-out pilot, which will include performances by Fatboy Slim, are part of the government's 'Events Research Programme'

The sold-out pilot, which will include performances by Fatboy Slim, are part of the government's 'Events Research Programme'

The sold-out pilot, which will include performances by Fatboy Slim, are part of the government’s ‘Events Research Programme’

There was mixed reaction to the event on social media today - with some envious of the revellers and others questioning the point of the event

There was mixed reaction to the event on social media today - with some envious of the revellers and others questioning the point of the event

There was mixed reaction to the event on social media today – with some envious of the revellers and others questioning the point of the event 

Temporary venues have been prepared for the two-day event in the city, including a tent for scientists to monitor behaviour

Temporary venues have been prepared for the two-day event in the city, including a tent for scientists to monitor behaviour

Temporary venues have been prepared for the two-day event in the city, including a tent for scientists to monitor behaviour

Liverpool’s director of public health Matt Ashton sounded a note of caution ahead of the pilot, saying Covid-19 was ‘still there’ and ‘new variants and international travel are still a real cause for concern’.

But he said ‘staying in lockdown is not an option’ and events were an ‘an important part of the wellbeing, social fabric and economies of communities, particularly in Liverpool’.   

‘This hasn’t been an easy process, and it’s particularly hard as the nighttime sector hasn’t been open for over a year,’ added director of Culture Liverpool, Claire McColgan.

‘But anyone who attends will not only be helping to get clubs up and running in Liverpool, they will be pioneers for the whole country,’ she added.

The event forms part of the Government’s month-long trials of non-socially distanced mass events.

Up to 20,000 spectators will be allowed at football matches and other sporting events, while thousands will be able to attend theatres and comedy clubs for the first time in a year. 

Nine events will be used for a month-long trial, including an FA Cup semi-final and the final in front of 21,000 fans at Wembley, as well as three 10km outdoor runs for 3,000 athletes and up to 3,000 spectators.

Officials are also in talks with the organisers of the Brit Awards about allowing thousands of fans to watch the music event, hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall, in London’s O2 Arena on May 11.  

Liverpool has been chosen for several events because of the city’s advanced testing infrastructure. 

Some events will be used to test Covid certificates, others to examine how ventilation, crowd flows and testing on entry can help audiences return without social distancing.  

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