Nightclubs across the UK are closing at a rate of one every two days due to soaring inflation, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). Data shows 123 nightclubs have shut down in the past nine months, a rate of 14 per month – higher than during the Covid pandemic.
There are now 1,068 nightclubs in the UK, down from 1,446 in December 2019 before the pandemic began. The NTIA predicts that on the current trajectory, a third of clubs will disappear by the end of the year.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: “The government is ripping the heart out of nightlife. This inflationary circle is taking its toll on our sector, with businesses trading 15% down across the board, costs up over 30%.” He added that independent clubs are “fighting to survive, managing cashflow on a day-by-day basis”.
Kill described the decline as “a huge tragedy for UK culture”, noting that dance music has claimed more than a quarter of hits in the official Top 10 in 2022. He called for the government to reinstate a freeze on alcohol duty, extend business rates relief and reduce VAT.
Last month, a nightclub in Sheffield cited a 500% electricity price increase as a factor in its closure. The manager of Code said: “After eight years, 1,657 events and 1.7 million customers, it’s time to close the doors… It’s clear that over this academic year we’ll be running at a significant loss.”
