The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is launching its 2015 Late Night Manifesto to promote the UK’s late night entertainment scene.
The Manifesto will set out key priorities for policy makers to cement, secure and enhance our world class reputation for growth, investment and jobs.
The group is calling on the Government and local authorities across the country to engage in partnership with the late night sector, recognise industry participation in high street regeneration and amend guidance to enable continued success in the late night economy.
ALMR chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The UK’s late night economy is one of the most exciting, innovative and valuable in the world. The sector is a hotbed of creativity, nurturing some of the country’s best young entrepreneurial and musical talent, reenergising town centres and contributing enormously to local economies. Around £66 billion in revenue is generated every year by the late night economy, employing 1.3 million people and accounting for 10% of GDP.
“Over half a billion visits are made to UK nightclubs each year, including over 300 million dedicated visits and nearly £18 billion spend. We should rightly be very proud of this enormous success and there is an opportunity to improve on this and ensure that the sector cements its reputation as one of the best in the world, while delivering continued growth and additional jobs.”
The Late Night Manifesto will see the ALMR working with the wider late night sector to encourage positive perceptions of the industry. It includes a new definition of alcohol-related crime; amends national guidance to require local authorities to work through partnership and voluntary schemes before introducing punitive measures such as EMROs and late night levies; reforms permitted development rights to promote investment and ensure nightclubs can operate with a degree of security.
