CLUBBING BACK AS RULES EASED
FIVE young men are discussing the moment they saw a bollard lift a police car into the air. It is 10pm on Friday and the group of 18-year-olds are in Cardiff city centre, making the most of Welsh nightclubs opening for the first time in a month as Covid rules relax.
They have just come from St Mary Street, where they had been surprised to see a police car slowly pushed upwards by an automated bollard.
One of the teens, Kyle Beynon, says: “The police officer drove over it and her bumper almost completely came off. We weren’t hoping for something like that to happen but to be honest it did add to our night. To be fair the police officer in front was laughing as well.”
For the five friends, such memorable moments have been few and far between for much of the pandemic, but they share a giddy excitement tonight. “This is the sort of thing that happens when you’re on a night out,” says Kyle.
Having just enjoyed a chat with a passer-by who made a TikTok video of the wedged police car, the friends are now marvelling at this reporter asking their thoughts on nightclub restrictions lifting.
“This is so cool” is not the reaction I usually get when approaching people for quotes in heavy rain.
The college and sixth-form students, who have made the trip from Caldicot and Magor, think their experience of being 18 has been “very different” to previous generations but not necessarily worse.
“You get more excited because you haven’t been able to do things for so long, so every experience is enhanced,” says Kyle.
His friend Zak Taylor says it is a thrill to be in a city on a night out. “For us it’s all about Cardiff and Bristol,” he adds. “Chepstow is near us but it’s nowhere near as good.”
The group are heading to Story on Greyfriars Road, in what will be Spencer Prescott’s first time in a nightclub. Clubbing is of less interest to him than it is to his friends, but they persuaded him to come out.
“I have a couple of pints in me so I’m getting into the groove,” says Spencer. “Worst comes to worst, if I get Covid I get it. It won’t be as bad as I had it last year.”
The teenagers’ enthusiasm is undampened by the rain but the weather may have kept some people at home, with some venues seeming quieter than might be expected on a night of lifted restrictions. Live Lounge is a different story. More than 100 clubbers queue outside, stretching the length of The Friary.
Another group of friends speak to me in the queue. Cameron Archer, Iwan Osborne, Joe Griffiths and Will Wickham do not underplay the dangers of Covid but they feel comfortable going out. They are thankful their jabs and Covid passes are allowing them to enjoy nightlife again.
“We are all triple-vaxxed – the science don’t lie,” says 21-year-old Cameron, before using an unprintable word to describe US podcaster Joe Rogan.
“Get Neil Young back on Spotify,” he adds with a grin, in reference to the songwriter demanding his own music be removed from the website because of its platforming Rogan’s vaccine misinformation.
The four friends grew up in Bridgend but now share a house in Cathays while studying at various universities. Will, 20, says Covid has “ruined” nightlife for much of his student experience so far, adding: “The word ‘awful’ sums it up.”
Cameron says: “I didn’t go into university for a year and a half. It was all online and they still charged £9,000. Until this year I haven’t been able to enjoy myself because of Covid. We went out [to a bar] once in the second year and they asked us for some kind of document to prove we all lived together.”
But things have improved recently says 22-year-old Joe. “This year has been f***ing great. In the summer we had to improvise a bit but it was good. We’d go out to the fields and play football.”
The easing of restrictions means table service is no longer a requirement in venues but Iwan, 22, says he preferred that system.
“You don’t have to get up and queue,” he adds. “That’s why I like going to Spoons [Wetherspoon] and using the app.”
But Iwan is glad to see the end of the rule of six for pubs. He says it was a headache to meet up with friends in Bridgend and have to split the group across different tables.
A little further back in the queue is Jamie Smith, who is feeling excited by the lifting of rules and his recent move from Brecon to Cardiff. The 21-year-old was a barista at Costa in his hometown but he felt he needed a
Now I’m living in a house-share and I’m ready to go out on the town and live my life
JAMIE SMITH
change after growing bored with rural life.
This is his first night out since moving to Roath. Why has he opted for Live Lounge? “I’ve heard it’s the best and it’s cheap as well.”
Asked if he feels comfortable clubbing at this stage of the pandemic, he says: “When Covid first started I was really paranoid about going out of the house because I was living with my parents and my dad’s vulnerable. Now I’m living in a house-share and I’m ready to go out on the town and live my life.”
Albert, a young singer at the Wales International Academy of Voice, tells me he is in the smoking area of Live Lounge because of his backpack.
“Inside it’s really crowded and apparently we’re not allowed to carry backpacks inside due to the new rules,” he says. “I didn’t know that until I was told but at least now I know better.”
Albert came from the USA to study in Cardiff at the height of Covid. He says there was a time when the restrictions on socialising made him lonely but he feels “so happy” now they have ended.
He adds: “I always come to bars to make friends so I guess this is a wonderful opportunity to intermingle.”