Sydneysiders have celebrated their first ‘Freedom Friday’ since the end of a gruelling three-month lockdown by taking to the city’s pubs and restaurants in their thousands.
Friends gathered together to enjoy some pub grub and a beverage as pubs and restaurants opened up to the public for the first Friday in nearly four months.
The party atmosphere was in full display in Newtown in the inner-city, where punters were gearing up for a big night ahead after being cooped up under stay-at-home orders.
Masked-up revellers continue to pour into the city’s pubs and restaurants as the night carries on (pictured)
Friends gathered for long awaited drinks (pictured)
Friends gathered after work for the first Friday knock off drinks in over three months (pictured)
Sydneysiders spilled out of pubs as they gathered for a beverage or two together (pictured)
Fully vaccinated Sydneysiders are excited for hospitality venues to finally open up their doors for the first Freedom Friday since lockdown restrictions eased (pictured)
People flocked to Sydney pubs for the first Friday night of freedom (pictured)
Hordes of young Sydneysiders gathered as they are finally reunited for Friday drinks (pictured)
Sydneysiders enjoy the long-awaited Freedom Friday as they have drinks with their loved ones (pictured)
Friends gathered together in large groups for the first time in over three months as restrictions eased (pictured)
Friends were eager to get in on the action, finally able to have a meal and drink together after weeks of lockdown (pictured)
Sydney’s bars and pubs were packed out as revellers flocked to get in on the Friday night action (pictured)
As NSW hit its 70 per cent fully vaccinated target on October 6, hospitality venues opened their doors on Monday to Sydneysiders (pictured)
The grey and rainy weather during the day did nothing to dissuade the hordes from coming out in their masses to experience a night out as blue skies appeared over the city in the late afternoon.
This follows the torrential rain and thunderstorms experienced across Greater Sydney on Thursday.
The rest of the weekend is forecast to continue the calmer weather with sunshine predicted till Monday.
From Monday 11 October, NSW residents who have been fully vaccinated were allowed group bookings of up to 20 people in hospitality venues with all premises operating at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors.
Drinking indoors must be seated, but drinking outdoors may be seated or standing and dancing is not permitted.
Singing is also not allowed in indoor venues with the exception of performers.
Other freedoms include 10 visitors allowed in homes, access to gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities and outdoor gatherings expanded to 30 people.
Young Sydneysiders gathered despite the wet weather to enjoy a night out together (pictured)
Police were seen out and about keeping an eye on revellers (pictured)
Friends gather, very happy to be able to share a long-awaited drink together (pictured)
Non-critical retail has reopened with density limits as well as personal services such as hairdressers, spas, beauty and nail salons, tattoo and massage parlours have reopened with density limits for up to five clients.
Masks are no longer required in outdoor settings, except for front-of-house hospitality staff but are required for all staff and customers in indoor settings.
Covid Safe check-ins and proof of vaccination is required for staff and customers.
The LGA and 5km radius travel bubbles were also burst, allowing Sydneysiders to catch up with friends living in other government areas for a long-awaited drink.
Sydneysiders gathered for Friday drinks after months of lockdown (pictured)
Loved ones gathered in their thousands as Sydney’s pubs and restaurants were filled to the brim with Freedom Friday revellers (pictured)
Pubs quickly filled with those eager to have a beverage with friends (pictured)
Friends shared a laugh and a drink after many were separated due to lockdown restrictions (pictured)
This comes as NSW quickly closes in on its 80 per cent of adults double vaccinated target as the state reports 399 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday.
Some 77.4 per cent of adults have now received two doses of the vaccine with 80 per cent expected to be double-jabbed by Saturday.
More restrictions are then set to be eased on Monday including increases to the number of visitors allowed into a home, increases to the number of people in outdoor gatherings, raising spectator caps at major events and reopening nightclubs.
Travel into regional NSW was set to be allowed once the state hit this milestone but has been pushed back to November 1 due to low vaccination rates in country towns.
Sydneysiders revelled with glee in the first Friday drinks since lockdown eased (pictured)
Many Sydneysiders looked excited for a big night out after being cooped up under stay-at-home orders for weeks on end (pictured)
A police presence was seen in some areas of the city as Sydneysiders flocked to restaurants and pubs