Covid NSW: Sydney night-life resumes after months in lockdown

There were hugs, tears and laughter at pubs across NSW as friends and family used their first nights of freedom to reunite after months apart.

After months of sleeping Sydney is finally awake again as night-life gets back to business, with friends and family reuniting over a beer, young people dancing in outdoor venues and restaurants packed with dinner bookings.

There were hugs, tears and laughter at pubs across the state as friends and family used their first night of freedom to reunite after months apart.

Dani Barona (left), Angela Osorio (centre) and Kate Alfonso enjoy catch-up drinks at The Clock in Surry Hills. Picture: Julian Andrews

As punters got used to signing in with their vaccine passports even the sternest of security guards couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces as they celebrated their first days back at work.

In The Rocks, The Argyle nightclub got creative with the public health order to bring back partygoers, putting a pop up tent in the courtyard and hosting an outdoor club, complete with live music and DJs.

Valentine Ervic and Emma Ladlow met in person for the first time at The Cumberland in Manly. Picture: Julian Andrews

In Manly’s The Cumberland bar, Valentine Ervic and Emma Ladlow were meeting in person for the first time after being introduced through a friend.

“It feels like we just lived in a dream for a while and now we are back to normal,” he said.

“It does feel like nothing happened, what we just witnessed was nothing and we are back to normal again.”

Bar staff at The Coogee Pavillion. Picture: Julian Andrews

In Manly the bars were packed with locals at 8pm on Thursday, with plenty of small groups of mates and post lockdown first dates.

In Surry Hills the beloved Clock Hotel reopened its doors for the first time on Thursday to a mostly local crowd.

Jakub Kamen celebrates his first schooner since lockdown at The Clock in Surry Hills.

Cousins Meg Johnston (left) and Emma Bofill reunite at Coogee Pavilion.

Jakub Kamen, 18, spent much of his first year as an adult in lockdown, and was taking full advantage of the pub reopening.

“It is awesome, I’m so happy to be back, I’ve missed the social life, the beer on tap,” Mr Kamen said.

“Being able to see more than one person at a time and actually go to a venue — I’ve been waiting for this for months.”

In the eastern suburbs the Coogee Pavilion was still pumping at 11pm with lots of big groups reuniting for dinner and drinks.

Bar manager Josh Crompton and bar tender Saskia Ferster are excited to be back at work at Coogee Pavilion. Picture: Julian Andrews

Operations manager Josh Crompton said the venue had seen plenty of first dates, wedding anniversaries, birthday parties and families reuniting in its first days reopened.

“It’s been really special inviting back the regulars and the locals we haven’t seen for so long and they come back with big smiles on their faces and are just as happy to see us as we are them,” he said.

Cousins Emma Bofill and Meg Johnston were stoked to be catching up at the pub, but Meg said it did feel odd at times.

“It’s pretty weird, it’s surreal. Going from a screen to real life is weird definitely … the social anxiety is through the roof, and being without a mask is so weird I feel super exposed.”

In Parramatta bad weather and the continued light rail construction had night-life off to a slower start this week, but with Eat St reopening and the sun set to come out on Saturday, the weekend is expected to come with bumper trade.

Solotel CEO Elliot Solomon said the street side dining and beer gardens will be packed this weekend.

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