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Sister bar to Club Revenge, R-Bar is to close on Sunday 20 September, after 21 years of operating in Brighton.
A statement was shared on social media, highlighting the challenges facing the nightlife industry and called on the Government to “provide transformative financial change” to ensure the survival of night-time venues.
It outlined how the cost of the site’s business rates, rent, energy, stock and other operating costs had risen dramatically alongside the impact of the cost-of-living crisis resulting in consumers spending less on a night out.
Furthermore, it confirmed sister venue Revenge will not be shutting but called on the public to support LGBTQ+ venues.
Sad news
This followed the announcement of the closure of the Charles Street Tap, also in Brighton, which is set to also shut in September when its lease expires, after 25 years of operations, according to reports in The Argus.
Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven Chris Ward reacted to the closures, sharing a statement on Instagram.
He said: “This is really sad news and I know how much R-Bar and Charles Street Tap mean to our local community.
“For decades, they’ve been places of joy, freedom and inclusion and it’s a huge loss to see major LGBTQ+ venues in our city close.
“This just underlines that we need to do much more both locally and nationally to support our night-time economy and LGBTQ+ venues in particular.
“Brighton has a proud LGBTQ+ history and identity and we must do everything we can to protect the venues and spaces that are such an important part of that heritage and community.”
Revitalising hospitality
He added: “I’m meeting with Steve [Jones, R-Bar managing director] this week to discuss this further and to see what more can be done to revitalise and support local hospitality.
“I will then raise this both in parliament and with ministers going forward.”
Data in June found one in six venues could fail within the next year without Government intervention.
According to a survey from trade organisations UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster found 23% of hospitality operators were operating at a loss - up 15% from three months prior while 5% said their business was no longer viable.
