WORCESTER’S pubs and clubs are seeing people flooding back through the doors following pent-up demand.

With lockdown measures long relaxed and student freshers arriving, the city’s publicans and club owners are seeing a large number of revellers once more.

A spokesman at Alexanders nightclub in New Street said Worcester is “back to how it was”.

He said: “Post-pandemic things were kind of scary as we were going into unknown territory.

“But we put measures into place to keep people as safe as possible and it’s been great to get back to some sort of normality. 

“It’s been amazing to see people happy, dancing, having fun and most of all smiling.

“We are so happy to see all our old and new customers walking through Alexander’s doors and it’s great to see nightlife in Worcester back to how it was before the pandemic hit.”

Neil McDiarmid, one of the family behind the city’s new Ale Hub, in St Peter’s, said things are turning back to pre-pandemic levels. 

He said: “I would say there is a pent-up demand for going out and socialising.

“We are slowly turning back to where it was before Covid.

“I think some people are still being cautious and we are doing extensive cleaning of surfaces and touch points and we have hand sanitiser as well.”

Tramps nightclub, on Angel Place, has been celebrating the start of the academic year with freshers week, with massive turnouts from the city’s student population. 

Posting on Facebook, the club welcomed back students back.

The post said: “Don’t miss out on the biggest and best student night in Worcester at Tramps Nightclub Worcester!

“This is the one night of the week not to be missed.”

The Government’s plan to introduce Covid passports in September, which nightlife bosses feared would hamstring the industry’s recovery, was ultimately scrapped.

Under the scheme, people would have been required to show proof - whether of double vaccination, a negative Covid test or finishing self-isolating after a positive PCR test - in order to gain entry to clubs and other crowded events.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “We shouldn’t be doing things for the sake of it.”