Britain is recovering today after celebrating the busiest night of the Christmas party season and the year’s booziest evening.
Revellers
across the country donned their party outfits to celebrate ‘Mad Friday’
last night as many offices closed for the festive period.
across the country donned their party outfits to celebrate ‘Mad Friday’
last night as many offices closed for the festive period.
Police
forces brought in extra officers to cope with demand and hospitals were
on high alert as Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting
for one drink too many.
forces brought in extra officers to cope with demand and hospitals were
on high alert as Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting
for one drink too many.
Hospitals were on high alert as
Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting for one drink too
many, pictured a woman falling over in Manchester
Britons put their health and safety at risk by opting for one drink too
many, pictured a woman falling over in Manchester
Two girls are looked after by police officers in Bristol city centre during ‘Mad Friday’ last night
A couple of girls lie in the middle of the street after falling over in Bristol city centre last night
A woman wearing high platform shoes stumbles and falls over last night in Swansea’s Wind Street
A group of friend eat fast food on the street after celebrating the start of the Christmas holidays
A man climbed up the giant Christmas tree in Victoria Square, Belfast, at around 10pm last night
A man sits with his head in his hands as he is dealt with by a police officer in Bristol city centre
In
Leeds city centre, fancy dress was in full flow with groups of women
hitting the town in striking wigs, while others on stilts serenaded
sharply dressed men.
Leeds city centre, fancy dress was in full flow with groups of women
hitting the town in striking wigs, while others on stilts serenaded
sharply dressed men.
Elsewhere in Birmingham, groups of friends showed off their ostentatious variety of festive jumpers.
One
reveller in London took the seasonal attire to the next level, with a
full red Christmas themed suit covered in snowmen and Christmas trees.
reveller in London took the seasonal attire to the next level, with a
full red Christmas themed suit covered in snowmen and Christmas trees.
Last year, sales of alcohol soared by 114 per cent on Mad Friday compared with an average Friday in 2013.
Police forces up and down the country brought in extra officers to cope with the demand in busy city centres.
In Manchester alone between 150,000 to 200,000 people rolled in to town for a boozy shindig.
A couple chat on the pavement during the busiest night of the Christmas party season and the year’s booziest evening
A woman is lifted up by two men while out celebrating in Swansea as many offices closed for the festive period
A group of women in full fancy dress hit up Leeds city centre on a drizzly night in Yorkshire
Revellers in Newcastle city centre donned their party outfits to celebrate ‘Mad Friday’ last night
A group of women dressed up as Santa on the biggest night of the Christmas party season in Newcastle
Two women dressed in festive costumes with striped stockings outside Napoleons in Manchester
Also in Leeds, two men try their luck with women on stilts on the night that is the start of the festive period
The girls on stilts pose for a picture on ‘Mad Friday’, which saw alcohol sales rise by 114 per cent last year
Groups of friends dressed as Santa Claus and elves as they celebrated the busiest night for Christmas office parties in London
A woman was arrested by North Wales Police for being ‘drunk and urinating’ in public at 4pm.
In Cardiff, there is a temporary triage unit in the city centre, while there is a help point in Swansea.
Police and ambulance crews urged people to take care when out drinking.
Humberside
Police said: ‘The festive period is a great time to socialise with
friends and work colleagues in the run-up to Christmas.
Police said: ‘The festive period is a great time to socialise with
friends and work colleagues in the run-up to Christmas.
‘Unfortunately,
these nights can lead to revellers drinking excessively which leaves
them vulnerable to becoming victims of crime and occasionally leading to
serious assaults and sexual assaults.’
these nights can lead to revellers drinking excessively which leaves
them vulnerable to becoming victims of crime and occasionally leading to
serious assaults and sexual assaults.’
Street pastors are turning to social media in an effort to use it as a force for good during party season.
Christian
Nightlife Initiatives have launched a #StaySafe campaign reminding
revellers of responsible drinking and appropriate behaviour.
Nightlife Initiatives have launched a #StaySafe campaign reminding
revellers of responsible drinking and appropriate behaviour.
In the capital, a man took the festive
attire to the next level, with a full red Christmas themed suit covered
in snowmen and Christmas trees
attire to the next level, with a full red Christmas themed suit covered
in snowmen and Christmas trees
Two men in Birmingham city centre got into the festive spirit by donning bright red Santa onesies
Two women in Leeds city centre enjoyed Britain’s booziest day of the year – known as ‘Black’ or ‘Mad’ Friday
A reveller dressed in a full puppy suit and a man in a Santa hat peruse the crowds in Birmingham
Two women dressed in sexy Santa outfits walk down Swansea’s Wind Street for a Black Friday night out
A group of friends in a full range of festive Christmas jumpers show off their seasonal wear for the cameras
Two girls in high heels take shelter under a leather jacket and umbrella given by a homeless man in London
Female friends get together on the night when many people celebrate the closure of the office for Christmas
Friends link arms in their festive jumpers on the busiest drinking night of the year across the country
In London, drinkers take a civilised approach and sip on their beverages on the last Friday before Christmas
Two revellers in matching outfits walk though a sodden Leeds city centre on the busy drinking night
Two men get in the festive spirit as they march through the Leeds city centre in Santa hats and beards
Party-goers in London dressed in dinner suits prepare for one of the busiest drinking nights in the calendar
A man and woman share a quiet bottle of champagne away from the crowds in central London
Their
tips include drinking plenty of water, staying in groups of friends,
and keeping money back to afford transport home at the end of the
evening.
tips include drinking plenty of water, staying in groups of friends,
and keeping money back to afford transport home at the end of the
evening.
Festive shoppers are expected to spend £1.2billion today as panic buyers hit the stores on ‘Panic Saturday’.
Some
of the country’s biggest high street names have slashed prices for what
is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
of the country’s biggest high street names have slashed prices for what
is expected to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Around
13 million consumers will spend £2.1million for every minute the shops
are open on last-minute gifts and groceries at an average of £92.31 per
person, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
13 million consumers will spend £2.1million for every minute the shops
are open on last-minute gifts and groceries at an average of £92.31 per
person, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
Debenhams
is selling some Christmas gifts at half-price, Boots is offering a 60
per cent discount of selected fragrances and Marks & Spencer has
knocked 50 per cent off the price of some beauty products.
is selling some Christmas gifts at half-price, Boots is offering a 60
per cent discount of selected fragrances and Marks & Spencer has
knocked 50 per cent off the price of some beauty products.
Britain’s
department stores can expect to double their takings this weekend, with
outlets in the north of England set to benefit the most from Panic
Saturday, according to data from Worldpay.
department stores can expect to double their takings this weekend, with
outlets in the north of England set to benefit the most from Panic
Saturday, according to data from Worldpay.
Crowds of revellers brave the wet weather to take to the streets of Liverpool on Mad Friday
Two young women, wearing short dresses and platform shoes, enjoy a night out in Liverpool on Mad Friday
Two policemen escort a woman to a taxi after she enjoyed a night out with friends in Liverpool on Friday
About Author
