The news comes as it was recently revealed that more than a quarter (26%) of towns and cities that had a nightclub in 2020 now have none while one in six have no late-night venues,.
Figures from the Night Time Economy Market Monitor, produced with CGA by NIQ, said that this equated to a total of nearly 800 businesses, leaving just 2,424 late night venues still operating.
The report also found that 16% of all towns and cities had lost all late-night venues entirely.
Cumulative impact
It highlighted some of these failures are the cumulative effect of a variety of challenges since the post-Covid reopening of hospitality.
It said that high inflation, patchy consumer confidence and changing lifestyle trends have all taken their toll on late-night operators.
However, the report also said that increases in minimum pay levels and national insurance contributions from April have been the “final straw” for some businesses.
NTIA said that these have disproportionately hit independent operators and this sector continues to struggle.
Cultural crisis
“The time to act is now. We must prevent the permanent loss of nightlife before these gaps in our towns and cities become irreversible,” said Kill.
“This is not just a hospitality issue - it’s a cultural crisis. Nightclubs and late-night venues are cultural institutions, economic engines, and cornerstones of community life. Losing them removes vital social and cultural spaces from our towns and cities.”
NTIA recently highlighted that the late-night sector needs to ensure it knows it liability around doorstaff as the HMRC launched a crackdown on the tax compliance of suppliers.
Kill advised licensees to do checks such as getting their PAYE registration number.
NTIA has also called for more support for the sector in the upcoming Budget which it said was facing "unprecedented challenges."
Read the full report Here
