Luminar trebles its nightclubs' seating area
Nightclub operator Luminar plans to treble the amount of seating space at its venues to around 20% of the total area.
Luminar chief executive Steve Thomas said that, as well as being safer, the move is in response to the "fundamental change" in the high street away from solely wet-led venues.
The news comes after Thomas gave his support for moves by Perth & Kinross Council to reduce vertical drinking by encouraging venues to increase seating areas.
Thomas told the MA this week: "In our nightclubs it used to be about 6% of the total [floor space dedicated to seating]. We are now trying to move to about 19%.
"The high street has fundamentally changed. There are very few drinks-orientated venues left. We are trying to open up premises earlier and put entertainment in earlier, and having seating makes it easier for people to stay in groups. I think people are coming for a much more relaxing evening.
"I think venues that have very limited seating are where problems have been. If you are standing there with a bottle of beer in your hand and people bump into you, you will react. Those large venues that have no seating have to be sorted out. They are not looking after their customers." Mark Jones, boss of nightclub company Ultimate Leisure, said around 25% of floor space at Ultimate venues is dedicated to seating.
He said: "It's clear there has been a turn away from square boxes with loud music and lights and as we've done refurbishments over the last couple of years we've increased, in particular, fixed seating. We provide a more comfortable area so that customers will choose us instead of late-night bars in the early evening."
