Reopening once-loved nightclubs in struggling town and city centres could help to revive the high streets and boost the economy, Labour’s shadow levelling-up secretary Lisa Nandy has said.
One in three nightclubs in the UK have closed their doors in the past decade, as changing drinking and socialising habits, cheap alcohol deals in supermarkets, and the impact of the pandemic has reduced their viability to operate.
In an interview with Times Radio, the MP for Wigan said that nightclubs and music venues played an important role in the culture, history and identify of a town or city, The Times reported.
“Every single town has lost a nightclub that they feel very strongly about, that was part of our history and our heritage,” she said.
In 2010 there were 10,040 licensed clubs in the UK, according to analysis of ONS data by software companies Stampede and Storekit, earlier this year.
By 2021 that had fallen to just under 7,000 and could reach 5,000 in the not-too-distant future if the pattern of closures over the past 10 years continues.
Michael Kill, chief executive, Night Time Industries Association told MCA: “It’s without a doubt that these businesses have a huge part to play in the regeneration of high streets in towns and cities across the UK.”
Kill said that beyond the generation of footfall through trading, the night time economy forms a key part of people’s decision making process when choosing a university or college, as well as influencing investment choices for businesses relocating or expanding to accommodate for a young workforce. “Not forgetting the important part they play in people’s, physical, mental and social wellbeing.”
“The government needs to recognise the economic, cultural and community value of the night time economy sector,” he added.
“The key to this is the ability to expand trade. They must look at opportunities to deregulate, create easements within planning and licensing as well as streamlining cost and process to allow for efficient growth and investment.”
Peter Marks, chairman, Rekom UK, said that while Nandy’s suggestion that shuttered nightclubs could just be reopened was far from realistic, he thought the point she was making was a positive one for the sector and contribution that clubs can make to a local area.
“There is a realisation that the club is an anchor tenant to the night-time economy and also some of the day, and losing the club often means others also suffer, not just the pubs and bars but clothes shops, nail bars and hairdressers, for example,” he told MCA.
