Sydney’s party-starved revellers made up for lost time on their first Covid restriction-free Friday night out in months.
Clubs, bars and pubs were packed and spirits were high on ‘Freedom Friday’ as drinks flowed and patrons took the hard-won chance to dance and sing their hearts out.
It was the first time in months they could enjoy complete freedom to sing, dance, hug and crowd together with strangers – all of which were either banned or at least frowned upon for months on end.
Many looked set for a huge night, but others seemed a little out of practice as partying hard caught up with them.
Sydney’s party-starved revellers enthusiastically made up for lost time on their first Covid restriction-free Friday night out in months
Clubs, bars and pubs were packed and spirits were high on ‘Freedom Friday’ as drinks flowed and patrons took the hard-won chance to dance and sing their hearts out
It was the first time in months they could enjoy complete freedom to sing, dance, hug and crowd together with strangers – all of which were either banned or at least frowned on for many months.
Sydney’s ‘Freedom Friday’ poured out of the clubs and pubs onto the streets but many were content to socialise literally on the street
Many looked a little out of practice as partying hard quickly caught up with them
Earlier, Sydney revellers enthusiastically kicked off celebrations to mark the end of hated Covid-19 restrictions with the partying expected to continue into the early hours.
For the first time in months, singing and dancing were allowed in Sydney’s hospitality venues, which no longer need to operate with previous density limits or QR check-in codes.
Groups of well-dressed revellers began to make their way to clubs and bars around Bondi, Cockle Bay and Barangaroo on Friday evening, apparently eager to party like it was, well, 2019.
Kerb your enthusiasm: Revellers catch their breath while enjoying the end of restrictions in Sydney
Sydney’s biggest night out in months was a welcome return to form for the party-starved city’s pubs and clubs
Relieved venue owners were hopeful that the end of the despised fun ban restrictions might signal a return to steady Friday night trade and at least some of the patronage they relied on before the pandemic decimated Sydney’s nightlife
Sydney revellers enthusiastically kicked off celebrations to mark the end of hated Covid-19 restrictions
Relieved venue owners are hopeful that the end of the despised fun ban restrictions might signal a return to steady Friday night trade and at least some of the patronage they relied on before the pandemic decimated Sydney’s nightlife.
Sydney revellers kicked off celebrations to mark the end of hated Covid-19 restrictions on Friday with the partying expected to go well into the early hours
For the first time in months, singing and dancing were allowed in Sydney’s hospitality venues, which no longer need to operate with previous density limits or QR check-in codes (pictured, a group of friends at Barangaroo)
Dancing shoes … Revellers make their way through Darling Harbour looking ready for a night on the dancefloor
‘Sydney, the time has come! Are you ready to return to the dance floor?’ The Argyle hotel said in a Facebook post ahead of its Pop It Like It’s Hot club night.
‘This is not a drill Sydney and the news we’ve all been waiting for! So kick start your weekend, celebrate some more freedoms and dance like no one’s watching.’
‘And we are back,’ the popular Kings Cross Hotel posted.
‘Restrictions are finally over which means It’s time to dust off the dancing shoes & get ready for some cardio on the D-floor.’
Hospitality density limits, set at one patron per two square metres, have been scrapped, and dancing and singing reinstated just in time for the start of the weekend.
Groups of well-dressed revellers began to make their way to clubs and bars around Bondi (pictured), Cockle Bay and Barangaroo on Friday evening, apparently eager to party like it was, well, 2019
Hospitality density limits, set at one patron per two square metres, have been scrapped, and dancing and singing reinstated just in time for the start of the weekend (pictured, revellers at Universal nightclub in Sydney’s Oxford Street)
QR code check-ins to shops, schools, and anywhere else other than nightclubs and music festivals are no longer needed (pictured, Sydneysiders party at Universal nightclub on Oxford Street)
QR code check-ins to shops, schools, and anywhere else other than nightclubs and music festivals are no longer needed.
From February 25, face masks will not be compulsory indoors in NSW, apart from public transport and a few other exceptions including hospitals.
The changes lifted the spirits of Sydney’s pub and nightclub owners, who are determined to put a ‘terrible’ few months in the rear-view mirror.
Frock and roll… Sydney’s glamorous punters needed no encouragement to head into the city and celebrate the end of the city’s despised fun ban Covid restrictions
Sydney looked dressed to party on Friday night in the city, as revellers began made their way into some of the city’s nightspots
For the first time in months singing and dancing were allowed in Sydney’s hospitality venues, which no longer need to operate with the previous density limits or QR check-in codes
Venue owners and managers are hopeful the patrons who used to fill the city’s bars, pubs and clubs will start returning with hate Covid restrictions gone
Mitchell Crum, owner of The Lord Gladstone hotel in inner Sydney, said operating throughout Omicron restrictions had been ‘terrible, really hard’.
But he feels the ‘vibe is back’ after he made a Facebook event on Friday to celebrate restrictions easing, which ‘went pretty viral’.
‘Loads of people are keen, loads of people are calling up and booking tables,’ he said. ‘Over the last few months it’s been hard. Financially, mentally, everything.’
Friday night drinks for big groups of mate appeared to be back around Darling Harbour
Sydney revellers looked set to party into the night with the freedom to dance and sing finally returning
The ‘return to normal’ is being celebrated by Graham Cordery, owner of Surry Hills live music venue The Soda Factory.
‘It’s overdue so it’s going to be amazing – I feel that there’s a real air of positivity,’ he said.
‘Let’s just say it’s definitely about time they put (live music venues) on an equal footing with many, many other industries that are returning to normal,’ Mr Cordery said.
Hospitality density limits, set at one patron per two square metres, have been scrapped, and dancing and singing reinstated just in time for the start of the weekend
The drinks were flowing all around Darling Harbour on Friday evening after hated Covid restrictions were dropped
He said since restrictions were introduced in January customers had become ‘even more eager to have those fun times back in Sydney’.
‘We’re just going to do everything that we can to hopefully be one of the leaders in offering people live entertainment.’
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the rollback of the COVID-19 restrictions, admitting said it had been a ‘very difficult two years’.
Diners enjoy lunch after density limits of 1 person per 2 square meters were scrapped for many venues following a change in New South Wales’s COVID restrictions in Sydney
‘Many people have made enormous sacrifices but the efforts that have been made … ensured we’ve seen downward pressure on our hospital system,’ he said.
NSW on Friday reported 9243 new COVID cases and 15 deaths. Hospitalisations have fallen to 1381 while intensive care patients remain steady at 92, with 47 on ventilators.
The eight women and seven men who died were aged 50 to in their 90s and five were unvaccinated, including one aged less than 65 who had ‘significant underlying health issues’, NSW Health said.
Research released Friday showed NSW has been able to safely return children to classrooms.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has been tracking coronavirus transmission in schools in conjunction with Sydney University, NSW Health and the education department.
The study was led by Sydney University paediatric infectious disease specialist Archana Koirala, who says there was not a dramatic increase in transmission in school settings despite high numbers of exposures in the final term of 2021.
‘Our findings confirm that vaccination of students and teachers as well as other mitigation measures in schools and the wider community can keep transmission low in educational settings,’ Dr Koirala said.
The data predates the peak of the Omicron outbreak.
