Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the UK body representing clubs, gig venues, pubs and other night-time spaces, has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the rate of club closures.
The Last Night Out warns that unless significant change is made to the current economics of nightlife culture, clubs could largely disappear from UK cities and towns by the end of this decade. The projection is based on the rate of venue closures since March 2020, in which time three late licensed music venues have closed for good each week.
“We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of the night-time economy,” said Michael Kill, CEO of Night Time Industries Association. “Our industry is not just about entertainment; it’s about identity, community, and the economy. The loss of our venues means the loss of jobs, culture and a vital part of the UK’s social fabric. Without urgent intervention, December 31, 2029, will be the last night out, and the end of a clubbing era that has defined generations.”
The Last Night Out encourages people to get involved in confronting the problem by signing a petition and emailing their local political representative to voice their concerns about the current rate of nightlife closures. The NTIA is also calling on the new Labour-led government to provide more financial support to the nightlife sector.
Among the organisation’s demands to the government are the extension of business rates belief past April 2025, and a call to recognise nightclubs and music venues as cultural institutions. It also believes the government should reconsider current licensing laws, business rates and VAT charges to create a more stable environment for the nightlife sector to operate in.
Read NTIA’s full statement on its The Last Night Out campaign here.
