More than one in four towns and cities now have no nightclub, and 16 percent have lost all late-night venues. Since March 2020, over 26.4 percent of after-hours venues have closed, leaving 2,424 still open nationwide. Major cities have seen steep declines: Birmingham down 27.5 percent, Manchester down 23.3 percent to 79 venues, and London down 20.8 percent. Closures began during Covid lockdowns and accelerated after fiscal measures raised payroll taxes and the minimum wage. Soaring operational costs, increased National Insurance, and limited post-pandemic support have contributed. Loss of small venues threatens talent development and the creative economy.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, warned the losses were stripping towns and cities of vital cultural infrastructure: "Nightclubs and late-night venues are more than just places to dance - they're cultural institutions, economic engines and cornerstones of community life." While Covid lockdowns began the wave of closures, the NTIA said the decline has worsened since the spring budget, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves raised payroll taxes and the minimum wage.
Karl Chessell of NIQ said: "These closures have coincided with soaring operational costs - including increases to minimum wage and National Insurance in April - and a continued shortfall in post-pandemic support for independent operators." The research shows three bars, clubs or music venues have closed every week over the past three months alone. Late-night venues are vanishing at nearly twice the rate of restaurants and pubs, which have declined by 14.2 per cent since 2020.
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