Southampton: Dom Whiting draws estimated crowd of 2,000

Known as the DJ who pedals as he plays, Dom cycles around the country on a custom-built bike and made Southampton the launch pad for his first outing of 2024.

An estimated 2,000 drum and base fans turned out to watch him cycle down Above Bar Street at the start of his journey.

An estimated 2,000 drum and base fans gathered in Guildhall Square to watch Dom set off (Image: Newsquest)

During the build-up to Dom's departure people of all ages bounced up and down in time to music that blasted out of several speakers.

Some of the spectators gathered in the street, halting double-decker buses and other vehicles trying to get through.

Dom, 28, grabbed a microphone and eventually succeeded in persuading the crowd to move out of the way.

Once the road was clear he said: "It's been four months since I've been on the bike. I've had a nice break and it's given me time to think about what I want to do this year.

"It's quite time-consuming but I love doing it - it's amazing."

The crowd was so large that buses had trouble making their way down Above Bar Street (Image: Newsquest)

In a wide-ranging address, he talked about the cost of living crisis, including its impact on fuel, rent, and mortages, and also launched an attack on social media.

"I do social media - but I hate social media. It's so bogus. It's a distraction from everything else that's going on."

But Dom ended by saying: "It's fantastic to come back to Southampton for the second time in two years. I'm super-motivated."

The former mechanic made a few last-minute adjustments to his bike as he inched his way through the crowd and prepared to pedal away.

Dom prepares to set off from Guildhall Square on his first ride of 2024 (Image: Newsquest.)

He was given a rousing send-off after shouting: "Southampton 2024 - make some noise!"

As he rode down Above Bar Street and turned into New Road he was accompanied by a huge number of fellow cyclists, some of whom held devices that produced large amounts of coloured smoke.

Dom will be back in Southampton on Friday, March 8, when he will appear at EngineRooms at West Quay Road Industrial Estate.

His previous visit to the city was in February 2022 and formed part of a UK tour.

He was given a police escort as he made his way across Southampton Common before visiting Shirley, Portswood and the city centre, ending his musical tour at Mayflower Park.

Dom hatched the idea during lockdown after growing weary of waiting for indoor parties to resume.