Making up for lost time: UK goes ‘out out’ after two-year break

On any given Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, it’s likely Aly Meghani will be relishing in a night out in central London, where the clubs, pubs and bars have returned to their spirited state.

The 25-year-old content manager from Ealing has been going out more than usual since lockdown restrictions were lifted in February. The reason? Making up for lost time, said Meghani, and the fear of missing out.

“Obviously everything is so packed nowadays, you’ve got to make the most of what you can. Even if it’s just if you’re outside, you’ve got to be doing something,” said Meghani, flanked by a group of friends in Soho.

It’s the return of “out out” a distinction popularised by the comedian Micky Flanagan, who differentiated between a regular night out, and “out out”, which is staying out later, longer, and clearing your schedule the following day.

In London’s Soho, the streets were thrumming on Wednesday evening, with the sound of people returning to venues in an attempt to make up for lost time. While some took part in birthday celebrations, others couldn’t help but note the sense of normality that has returned.

The optimism has been observed elsewhere. The club owner Rekom has found evidence that Britons who came of age during the pandemic are not only turning up earlier on nights out but spending more on drinks in clubs and bars than in March 2020.

It’s a significant recovery that has allowed the group to open at least 10 more bars this year. After buying 42 of the former Deltic Group’s UK clubs and bars out of administration in January 2021, the Copenhagen-based Rekom now has 48 UK outlets, taking back some of its former sites and adding new ones.

Yet Rekom’s gains come as the economy shrinks. As the inflation rate reached the highest levels since 1992 last month, experts forecast Britain could fall into recession this summer.

“We haven’t experienced the consumer price squeeze yet,” said Peter Marks, chairman of Rekom, “but most of our guests are under 25 and they are not the people paying the electric bill, filling the car or paying the mortgage.”

According to Rekom, just over 60% of 18- to 24-year-olds said they were more enthusiastic about going out to clubs and festivals because of missing out during the pandemic, and almost half of 25- to 34-year-olds said the same.

That’s not the case for everyone though. While some people who spoke with the Guardian said they’re going out more, others had emerged from the pandemic tamer and more considerate on their nights out.

Lauren Bude and Millie Jones, university students from Surrey and Nottingham, were visiting London for a friend’s birthday. When asked if they’re going out more, they chimed in unison: “Yes, definitely.” But are they spending more? No, said Bude, who described herself financially as a “tight queen”. Jones added that she is spending the same amount as before the pandemic struck.

For Bude, 21, however, nights out aren’t a matter of making up for lost time but rather “just getting back to normal” after not going out at all during the pandemic. “Now it’s easier to do,” added Jones, 20. “There’s less risk.”

The threats from coronavirus were particularly acute for Simba Munson, a Sainsbury’s employee and frontline worker throughout the pandemic.

“It was hard,” said Munson, who was celebrating his 34th birthday in Soho. “I was working through the whole pandemic. I’m a bit tired, and I’m getting older now, I just can’t be bothered.”

When he does go out, however, Munson tends to stay out later to make the most of it, he said. When asked if he is spending more, he joked: “Well I’m not, but my boyfriend is.

“You need the freedom,” added Munson. “Everyone’s been cooped up for so long that you need to be out there.”

Evidence suggests that since March 2020, the total number of licensed venues in the UK has shrunk by 8%, with 9,200 fewer sites. According to the consultancy CGA and the advisory firm AlixPartners, independent operators bore the brunt of it, with 8.7% closing, and 4.8% of chains or managed pubs closed.

Karl Chessell, CGA’s director for hospitality operators and food for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says there is “a lot of turmoil going on” due to staffing, supply issues and heavy inflationary pressures. He expects a steady flow of closures and openings as the year progresses but, overall, for consumer demand and investor confidence to remain strong.

For Ilhan Hassan, 26, the discussion of whether people are going out and spending as much as before the pandemic is already outdated.

“It’s a bit late to have that conversation, in my opinion,” said Hassan. She started going out again last year, making up for lost time. “This year we’ve been doing it,” said Hassan, surrounded by a group of friends. “Nothing new.”

Typically, she will go out twice a week. If that means she’s out until 5am, she will be, Hassan added. If not, she will settle for the latest hour possible.

“If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be dancing until the sun comes out,” said Hassan as the group made their way to the next bar. “Once again, it’s my birthday.”

Going out out: what to wear

Much like dancing, your going out style might be a bit rusty. Here are four tips to make sure your return to a club is as stylish as it is joyous.

1 Don’t wear your best coat

It’s a rookie move to wear something you treasure to a club. You’ll either end up worrying about it all night, or with fomo from standing in the cloakroom queue. Instead, have a “clubbing coat” that keeps you warm but one you can stuff behind a speaker without too much stress. A bomber jacket or a fleece is perfect.

2 Lighten your load

Go for a small bag that you can wear crossbody or around your waist, with lots of zips. John Lewis’s Kin bag or bumbag from Fila or similar would work. Note: wear said bumbag around your shoulder not waist to update your clubbing look from 1989 to 2022.

3 Layer, layer, layer

Remember a night out can involve time waiting outside in a queue, and time on a dancefloor. To keep your style cool in both instances, you’ll need a hoodie (a classic of the out-out pro playbook) and a top you can strip down to. In terms of trends this summer, that could mean an off-the-shoulder T-shirt, a camisole or – for the real club-friendly look, a bra top like those found at Zara and others.

4 Trainers are probably best

There’s a case to be made for heels for your first night out in over two years but trainers are more fashionable. In even better news, the super-comfy chunky ones get a pass, as part of the “dad trainer” trend. A pair of grey New Balance 550s are now classic and robust enough to come through clubbing dirt fairly unscathed.