"Willing to do anything to reopen": West Midlands nightclubs welcome proposed rapid test scheme
Boris Johnson suggests testing clubbers at the door to reopen venues.
Nightclubs across the West Midlands are welcoming the news that rapid COVID testing at the door could be used to let them open again later this year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested rapid flow tests could be used by parts of the economy who were unable to open last year - But he stressed it was "still early days" with "lots of discussions still to be had".
Businesses have been unable to open since the start of the first lockdown in March last year.
Earlier this month figures suggested one in ten nightclubs won't be able to survive the current lockdown.
We've spoken with nightclub managers and events directors across the region to gauge their reaction to the proposals.
Sam Evans and Drew Burke, Events Directors at The Hangar Events Venue, Wolverhampton
Sam said: "My initial reaction to the announcement was, ' that It's fantastic!' If it enables us to allow a thousand customers to come into our venue for an event and we have to do rapid testing to be able to get them in, that is light at the end of the tunnel.
"Practicality wise, we'll just have to make sure we allow enough time to be able to get everyone tested before they enter the venue.
"We genuinely believe the thousands of people that we have at our venues week in and week out, if they were offered the chance to be able to have a night of normality, in the sense that they haven't had one for 12 months, I think everyone would jump at the chance."
John-Paul Batterton, Owner of Keystones Cocktail Club in Worcester
John-Paul said: "I think it's good to finally have some acknowledgement from the Prime Minister, regarding the late night economy and nightclubs in general.
"I think at this point with hospitality being one of the hardest hit sectors of the economy, we're all willing to do whatever it takes to reopen safely and responsibly
"I think people adapt to the situation that they're in and I think the last year has been challenging for customer and businesses owners, but I think people will adopt any new measures quite quickly. It will become just part of a normal night out.
"I'm definitely happy to see this kind of initiative from the government. We need to plan and prepare as best as possible to get things restarted and to get the world open again and the hospitality industry. I know we're eager to open as soon as possible."
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