Scotland’s nightclubbers vowed to be “out every night” as the easing of coronavirus restrictions allowed the venues to reopen for the first time in more than a year.
Nightclubs across the country opened their doors as the clock moved a minute past midnight on Monday and Scotland’s Covid-19 Levels system was scrapped.
In Glasgow, dancers took to the floor at the Boteco Do Brasil club.
Martin Stewart, 24, from the city, was among the crowd and said he was glad to be back.
“It’s been a long wait – I’ll be out till closing,” he told the PA news agency.
At the nearby Polo Lounge, an LGBTQ inclusive club, revellers chanted and screamed as the clock struck midnight and the doors re-opened.
Luke Dunsmuir, 19, from Strathbungo, said he was eager to get back.
“I’ve been nightclubbing since I was 15,” he said. “Oot and aboot.”
He said with clubs closed he had missed meeting different people and networking with others.
He said he wasn’t worried about Covid-19 as he was double-vaccinated.
“The only worry was older people, that was the only worry for me, but the younger generation the percentage of them getting Covid is so low,” he said.
He said his next few weeks would be “busy busy”.
“Out every night, just you wait, you’ll be seeing my face everywhere,” he added.
In the city’s centre people queued round the block outside the Savoy nightclub.
Mark Grant, 19, and Johnny Matthews, 21, both from the Southside of Glasgow, were among those waiting to get back inside.
Mr Grant said he only had two months of clubbing when he turned 18 before the country locked down.
“I spent most of my 18 inside, so it’s been good to get back out,” he said.
“It’s a huge part of our teenage life – especially teens to early twenties – it’s a huge part of it, and we’ve not had it. So we have a lot of time to make up for,” he said.
Mr Matthews said: “I’m buzzing – I’ve got Monday off work, I put a holiday in”.
He said he was double vaccinated but would be taking precautions.
“We will be wearing the mask, but it should be all right,” he said.
He added: “It’s a good laugh, cheap drinks, so it’s good to get back.”
Nightclubs were among the last venues to reopen in Scotland, long after bars were allowed to welcome back customers.
Following initial confusion last week, the Scottish Government clarified that masks would not have to be worn when dancing or drinking.
