The early closing time imposed by the Government to curb the spread of the virus means thousands of revellers are spilling out onto the streets at the same time. People in Liverpool said the city was the busiest it had been for months as customers were asked to leave hospitality venues early in compliance with the strict nationwide restrictions.
Photos shared on social media showed crowds outside the city’s central station and people joining vast queues for public transport.
One Twitter user said: “Town is an absolute disgrace, shame on anyone getting involved in those crowds.”
Another wrote: “What a stupid idea it was having a curfew, haven’t seen town this chocker in months.”
A third said: “10pm strikes and town becomes an intolerable drunken mess.”
Liverpool Echo reporter Emilia Bona tweeted: “In town for chucking out time and this is the situation.
“Two buses full before we even got near them and queues out the offy next to the stop. This isn’t working.”
Merseyside Police said it had earlier warned residents to follow COVID-19 guidance ahead of the first weekend under the new restrictions.
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Similar scenes in London have sparked calls for “immediate action” to get coronavirus back under control in the capital.
Videos and pictures appeared to show people partying in the streets as they left pubs and bars and headed for packed tubes.
The London Mayor’s office urged Londoners not to congregate at closing times and urged them to follow the guidelines.
The spokesman said London was now at a “very worrying tipping point” with rising COVID-19 cases, NHS 111 calls, hospital admissions and patients in intensive care units.
He said: “London is at a very worrying tipping point right now. We’re seeing a sharp rise in 111 calls, hospital admissions, and patients in ICU.
“Whilst Londoners have made incredible collective sacrifices to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the number of cases is now rising steeply again and we have to take immediate action to get the virus back under control.”
The 10pm curfew is one of a number of new restrictions which came into force last Thursday.
Under the rules, pubs, bars and restaurants must offer table service only and all hospitality, leisure, entertainment and tourism businesses all have to close between 10pm and 5am.
