'Nightlife culture isn't dying but it is evolving'

"It's near to midnight on a Friday and a queue wraps around the arches of Charing Cross. Students in glitter and vintage jackets shuffle forward outside Heaven, one of London's most iconic and longest-running LGBTQ+ clubs. It looks like business as usual, but talk to the 20somethings waiting to get in, and a different story emerges. They say that contrary to the Gen Z stereotype, demand for clubbing exists for people their age, but affordability doesn't."

"Design student Ellie said: "Yes we did go through Covid at the coming-of-age time and maybe that has affected us a bit, but really the decision comes down to, how much is this going to set me back?" Another, Saffron, 21, said: "My student loan is literally nothing. If my parents didn't send me any money, I'd be sat at home right now. "Drinks are so expensive. There aren't many student nights with cheaper drinks for example. Where is my student night?"

Nightclubs across London face mounting threats from rising operational costs, complaints from neighbours and shifting social habits. Industry groups warn of accelerating closures, with the Music Venue Trust reporting two to three venue closures per week nationwide. Young people still express demand for clubbing but cite affordability problems, high drink prices and limited student-friendly nights. Financial pressure on students reduces disposable income for nightlife, while venues confront intense economic and community challenges. An independent Nightlife Taskforce was set up by the mayor a year ago to examine the state of the city's nightlife.

Read at www.bbc.com