Over 8,000 people ranging from 18 to over 55 years-old took part in the survey which was commissioned by local authorities in eight UK cities such as The Mayor of London, Cardiff City Council and Glasgow Music City. The report has been described as a “chance for audiences to have a say in the future of live music.”

The findings are sure to give a sense of optimism to those within the music industry with an overwhelming majority agreeing on bringing in certain rules and legislation to support musicians and venues.

The first findings in the report show just how important music is to people within this country, with over 99% agreeing that live music events are an important part of UK culture and 95% saying they are important to the UKs international reputation.

mxdwn.co.uk covered how the music industry contributed £7.6 Billion to the UK economy last year, with very little of that trickling down to support venues or musicians.

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Perhaps the most important part of the survey is the massive support for independent venues. The constant problems for grassroots sites has been evidently growing since the Covid pandemic.

Last year the ‘Music Venue Trust’ (MVT) discovered that a ‘disaster’ had hit independent venues. They revealed that in 2023, 125 UK venues had abandoned live music, with over half of them shutting their doors for good. Since Covid lockdowns, over 37% of all clubs throughout the country had permanently closed down, if this trend continues there would be ZERO night time venues left in the UK by New Years Day 2030.

These issues have been covered by mxdwn.co.uk – read here about how 10 nightclubs on average were closing down per week in 2024.

These worrying numbers are now starting to be noticed by people up and down the country. Of the 8,000 surveyed, 58% have witnessed the closure of a locally important venue since 2020, and the people have had enough.

94% of the respondents agree with bringing in laws to give music venues and nightclubs some form of protected status, with 85% saying that it is not right that venues are being shut down because of noise complaints made by newly moved-in neighbours.

 

 

 

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One of the most promising findings is the overwhelming support for the proposed ‘Premier League style’ £1 ticket levy – which would see arena-sized venues and above “paying back into the ecosystem to help the talent pipeline flow”.

A staggering 93% strongly agree with bringing in this levy which has been backed by the likes of Coldplay, Sam Fender and Katy Perry.

It is not only venues that need all the help they can get, as up-and-coming musicians are also struggling to make a living in the current economic climate.

A group called the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) is attempting to tackle this by running the ‘100% Venues’ scheme . This campaign gives venues the opportunity to sign up to give artists 100% of their merch sales, tackling the growing problem of musicians missing out on well-earned money.

David Martin, CEO of FAC, has backed the recent survey, saying: “ The results of the Music Fans’ Voice survey has one overriding message: the relationship between artists and fans provides the beating heart of live music. It’s their shared passion which drives music discovery, ticket sales, attendances, and in-venue spending.”

 

 

 

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The hope within the industry is that these new findings will make the Government act by bringing in laws and legislation, something which the previous Government failed to do. MP Chris Bryant told NME recently: “We’re not asking whether to act, we’re asking how to act and what action to take.”

Only time will tell whether true change is brought in, but the obvious backing of the UK population is a big step in the right direction.

The move has already proven to be quite controversial; many have argued its existence is a mere attempt at appeasing noise complaints from local residents which will consequently rid the city of its vibrance.

The proposed ‘quiet nights’ would affect many popular night out destinations, including the West End, Soho, Hyde Park, Oxford Street and the Strand. With local residents and night-life-goers expected to comply to the quietening down of the city from 6pm to 6am.

Utterly pathetic. Westminster councillors – Soho! the West End! – launch a plan “encouraging venues to host ‘quiet nights’ with reduced noise levels, dimmed lighting” & less drinking.

If people living in flats in the centre of one of the world’s biggest cities want “quiet… https://t.co/XC7XXwZa34

— Benjamin Butterworth (@benjaminbutter) March 13, 2025

Nightlife in the UK has witnessed an unprecedented crisis, exacerbated by 2020’s lockdown, facing little recovery since. In the Night Time Industries Association’s (NTIA) report last October, the organisation revealed the country’s nightlife feared going ‘extinct’ after continued decline in the late-night sector; revealing a shocking statistic of 10 venue shutdowns a month, with two venues permanently closing their doors weekly.

Music Venue Trust have also voiced the ongoing crisis facing grassroots venues, even establishing Kate Nash as a patron following her advocacy for government action to save venues. London is not the only city to consider the effects of nightlife on local residents. Leeds venues Home and Carousel unveiled their plans in January to give club-goers lollipops for their journey home to “keep them quiet” in residential areas surrounding the city centre.

Launching the Draft Westminster After Dark Strategy!

We’re proud to unveil the Draft Westminster After Dark Strategy 2025-2040, our bold vision for an evening and nighttime that’s safe, vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable.

Whether you’re a resident who calls… pic.twitter.com/01GCAV4OVb

— Westminster City Council (@CityWestminster) March 12, 2025

In support of the upcoming nightlife proposal, Westminster Councillor Geoff Barraclough has said: “Westminster After Dark aims to balance the needs of a thriving evening and nighttime offer with the wellbeing of the residents who call Westminster their home.”

He continued: “This new strategy is our response to the obvious challenges of managing these competing demands. Following extensive engagement, Westminster After Dark explores how we will remain a welcoming, innovative, inclusive, and liveable city with something on offer for everyone.”

In conjunction with the new strategy, 100 additional CCTV cameras are reportedly being set up to improve safety of those visiting the aforementioned locations.

Jfc I’m just begging for a council that wants to recover the nightlife in London, not kill it for good. What a joyless and depressing list of priorities.

London is one big ‘quiet night’ nowadays https://t.co/jnZj1rYrzi pic.twitter.com/BYs2VOGtv6

— Stefan Roberts (@stefanroberts) March 13, 2025

Despite these efforts, business owners in central London have accused the council of only listening to locals, neglecting the area’s wider culture. Afterall Westminster’s evening and night-time sectors contribute over £3.7 billion to the district’s wider economy and supplies over 80,000 jobs.

Changes to London’s nightlife recently saw Jeremy Joseph owner of legacy LGBT+ venue G-A-Y put the establishment up for sale following “a constant uphill battle” to keep the venue open, arguing Soho had “lost its vibrancy”.

As Westminster Council aim to put their ‘Westminster After Dark’ strategy into fruition, it is evident the council needs to address growing concerns of the stability and longevity of London’s struggling nightlife.

In the heartfelt post which delved into the owners justification behind the “tough decision”, Joseph stated: “This isn’t an easy decision, to me this is more than just a bar, it’s also my home, I’ve lived above it for over 15 years, but it’s now time to make some changes”.

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G-A-Y opened in 1976 and has since served as a vital pilar to the LGBT community by bringing individuals together with live music, club nights and culture to vibrantly exist and celebrate their identities.

The decision to close such a historically iconic LGBT venue came after Heaven nightclub’s temporary closure last year left Joseph at crossroads while fighting for the re-opening of the venue. The temporary closure of Heaven came after it was discovered a security guard allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old who had been in the queue for the venue for over two hours.

In the social media post, the G-A-Y owner reflected on Heaven’s closure, stating: “I was clear to Westminster CC’s Licensing committee that if they closed Heaven for even a short time it would potentially put G-A-Y Bar at risk financially, & I was clear & transparent with everyone as to the financial & mental damage which the fight to reopen Heaven had on me. Even now after Heaven’s re-opening, the damage financially & mentally has been irreparable”.

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Furthering the decision to permanently shut G-A-Y Bar, Joseph pinpointed the “constant up hill battle” surrounding the socio-economic issues caused by the Cost of Living crisis and the lack of assistance available for those within the hospitality and the late night sector, which has already resulted in substantial closures in the last year.

Joseph argued: “it doesn’t feel like anyone with power cares about hospitality & it definitely doesn’t feel like they care about LGBT venues, Old Compton Street has lost its queer identity”.

He continued: “I firmly believe Soho has lost it vibrancy […] Old Compton street is not the same anymore, it has a new identity & when you look down the street, you see restaurants, cafes, take aways but the street that was the LGBT capital, is no more”.

As the legendary LGBT venue’s life comes to an end, Joseph has urged fans of the venue to be reminded of G-A-Y’s original purpose and the difficulty of his decision: “Making tough decisions but for the best. Making the changes I need to find peace of mind”.

The multi-purpose venue opened its doors in April last year, after a refurbishment of its previous site Tiger Tiger Bar.  ‘Carousel’ refers to the bar on the premise which features arcade games, live music and DJs, whereas ‘Home’ serves as a nightclub consisting of two rooms. Both are run and owned by the same operator.

New Leeds bar Carousel and huge nightclub ‘Home’

We all know Leeds loves to party and here is a new bar AND super club transforming nights out in the city

Carousel has an arcade packed full of games, music and cocktails, and downstairs you’ll find nightclub ‘Home’! pic.twitter.com/zr7HVCFBg9

— Leeds+ (@LeedsPlusSocial) April 8, 2024

The revelation to give attendees lollipops came after the various noise complaints from those within the city centre and the nearby K2 Apartments. On behalf of the tenants, Tony Whitfield suggested noise has been an ongoing problem, even with the previous owners of the premise. Whitfield revealed: “Sound really does resonate through the building”.

Continuing, Albion Street (where the venue is located) has “been a flash point for a lot of violent attacks”.

Operations Director, David Nejrup has empathised with the victims of the noise complaints and insists Home and Carousel will be proactive in their approach to reduce noise and anti-social behaviour which disrupts nearby residents of the city centre.

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Alongside giving attendees free lollipops on their way home, other measures will include moving the outdoor smoking area and the installation of sound insulation on the dancefloor. Nejrup insists the measures will ensure that “there should be no noise leakage from that nightclub”. His comments follow similar measures that have been instated in other venues across the country. He continued: “As daft as it sounds, people tend to become quiet when they have something in their mouth”.

The attention to noise complaints follows a recent council hearing on Tuesday (January 14) regarding an application made by the premise to extend its serving times during the week. The BBC have noted that the Local Democracy Reporting Service have recognised a trend in venues in the city wanting to stay open later.

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Home and Carousel will now be able to sell alcohol until 04:00 AM from Sundays to Thursdays and 05:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. These new hours for the venue were agreed due to the venue’s compliance to implement measures which would safeguard the wellbeing of locals.

James Gibson, the Cross Gates and Whinmoor Labour councillor who chaired the meeting, stated: “We note that you’ve agreed to work with the residents. We want to see you do that”.

As Home and Carousel prepare to re-open their doors this week following the new noise-cancelling measures, the venue and nearby residents will remain hopeful to their effectiveness.

The refurbished IKEA warehouse has a capacity of 15,000 and has hosted day festivals as well as club nights for mainly dance music. The venue is currently subject to an emergency licensing review after the Met Police asked Enfield Council to investigate.

The review comes after multiple incidents at or near the club. A 27-year-old man died after attending an event on October 12, and a 29-year-old woman after an event on December 7 – both deaths are believed to be drug-related. Another man was attacked with a weapon inside the venue on November 16^th.

A spokesperson for the police said: “Public safety is our priority and following a request from the Metropolitan Police, Enfield Council held an extraordinary licensing hearing for Drumsheds, operated by Broadwick Live.”

“This follows three serious incidents at the venue in recent weeks, with our officers investigating two unexpected deaths and a non-fatal stabbing.”

At the licensing hearing, the venue was allowed to keep its license before a final decision to continue or condemn the club is made on January 7. Additional contingencies and conditions have been put in place, such as an increased police presence. Enfield Councillor Susan Erbil said, “council officers and the police will continue to monitor the premises to ensure these conditions are in place.”

The nightclub, which opened in 2023, is one of the world’s biggest and has a size of 608,000 square feet, which is about the size of eight football pitches. It’s played host to big names such as The Chemical Brothers and Four Tet. But it’s recently come under fire for overcrowding, specifically at an event for D’n’B label UKF on December 13.

UKF – unsafe conditions/Rant
byu/Sea_Flow_83 inDrumsheds

Upset concertgoers complained about the crowding, unsafe queues and “aggressive” security on social media, with a petition being launched for fans to receive refunds. “Numerous people were subjected to frightful conditions that risked their safety at a recent event ran at the venue Drumsheds in London,” the petition reads. It goes on to speak about the possibility of “crowd crushing” and “widespread panic and fear” among the attendees.

A review from Music Tech put forward the chaotic gig as potentially the “worst-organized event at the venue yet”, calling its safety measures “woefully inadequate”. First-hand accounts from disappointed fans reported “ridiculous” queues and feeling unsafe.

Nightlife in the UK is in a floundering state. Research shows that over the past four years, the UK has lost 37% of its clubs, around 10 closing each month. In London, a total of 3,011 night economy business closed between March 2020 and December 2023, the most for any English region. You can read our article on the withering nightlife scene here.

According to a new mini documentary based on the genre called DnB: In for Life, statistics based on user data show that their “yearly average streams of the Drum ‘N’ Bass genre have increased by 94 percent since 2021”.

The short film produced by Spotify traces the evolution of the UK sound and subculture, featuring big names in the scene like Charlie Tee, Kanine, Sota, Singer and DJ Flight. In the documentary, Charlie praises its freeing nature and fandom, describing it as “the most exclusive universal club – but the only criteria is that you have to love the music.”

An article from MixMag notes Spotify’s Top 10 artists in the scene – Chase & Status, Bou, Rudimental, goddard., Sub Focus, Charlotte Plank, Skepsis, Hybrid Minds, SHY FX and Nia Archives.

It also notes the most streamed D’n’B tracks of the year – Chase & Status and their collaboration with Stormzy, “BACKBONE”, as well as Rudimental and Skepsis with “Green and Gold” feat. Charlotte Plank and Riko Dan, and goddard. and Cat Burns with “Wasted Youth”.

Research from How Music Charts marks a rising interest in the sound – the most followed electronic music playlist on Spotify, called Mint, saw an increase in the number of drum and bass tracks added annually, and the audiences for Spotify’s “Massive Drum & Bass” and “Jungle Classics” playlists both doubling.

Data shows that a younger crowd are being drawn into the dance genre, with 68% of listeners below the age of 34. This could be for several reasons – a crop of new musicians and DJ’s championing the sound, popularity on social media and an increased diversity in both style and performers.

Artists like PinkPantheress, Nia Archives and Piri & Tommy have found success by reimagining the breakbeats and tempos of the D’n’B sound with dreamy vocals, smooth instrumentation and pop-style song structures. Nia’s album Silence Is Loud saw her mix jungle rhythms with indie rock influences, and Pink Pantheress has incorporated hyperpop and alternative flavours into her eclectic style that she describes as “a form of D’n’B that’s acceptable to listen to at home.”

In an interview with DJ Flight from the BBC, she shared her excitement for a new wave of female artists on the D’n’B scene, saying “it’s so incredible that there’s so many women coming through now, because with the internet and that visibility, it’s like they can’t be stopped”.

Social media has played a part in the expansion of electronic music as a whole – Tik Tok has mentioned that electronic music is one of the apps most celebrated genres, with fans and artists using its features to share and remix music, create trends and post their favourite live sets. The company says that the tags for “#ElectronicMusic” video creation is up 70% this year, and “#DnB” is up 50%.

@boilerroomtv Best of 2023: @chaseandstatus • Boiler Room: London #boilerroom #boilerroommoment #newmusic #electronicmusic #rave #ravetok #dnb #drumandbass #chaseandstatus ♬ original sound – Boiler Room

While the popularity of D’n’B has flourished, the nightclub culture that cultivated the genre is dying in the UK, with the Night Time Industries Association predicting that unless action is taken soon, UK clubbing could be “extinct” by the end of the decade. An average of three clubs a week are shutting permanently, and if this pattern continues then all spaces in the UK will have disappeared by 2030.

DNB: In for Life, the mini documentary from Spotify and Drumsheds is out now and available to watch on Youtube.

As the NTIA report expressed the closure of 480 nightclubs between June 2020 and June 2024, many hoped that the first budget from a Labour government in over 14 years would exhibit an increased intervention within the nightlife sector, to rectify closures and revitalise the industry. Instead, the late-night sector has encountered multiple budget cuts, leaving many to criticise the government as the industry is threatened to go extinct.

Reeves announced the business rate relief on small venues will face a £110,000 cap per business in relief to businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure industry. An overall decrease from its current rate of 75% to 40% as of April next year.

Reeves addresses the business rates relief during the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget at 39:17.

In response to the autumn budget, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) released a press statement revealing the detrimental impact the budget will have on already economically-strained small venues. In the statement the MVT stated: “Over 350 Grassroots Music Venues are now placed at immediate risk of closure, representing the potential loss of more than 12,000 jobs, over £250 million in economic activity and the loss of over 75,000 live music events”.

Over the next few days, please write to your local MP about the urgent need for action to stop the rise in Business Rates and prevent hundreds of grassroots music venues closing.

We’ve made an online resource at https://t.co/6I9NCP5erx to make this as easy as possible to do so. pic.twitter.com/gpNoEsaAto

— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) October 31, 2024

The budget also announced Labour’s plans to deliver a lower rate of taxes on physical, hospitality and leisure premises in April 2026.

Although they welcome these changes, the MVT added: “Changes in April 2026 are to be welcomed, but will be of no use for the hundreds of music venues that are now more likely to be lost before this challenge is finally met with a full, long overdue reform”.    

As the NTIA have mapped the decline in Britain’s late-night sector over the past few years, the organisation promptly released a statement following yesterday’s budget. They disclosed: “The industry operates in a highly challenging environment and within a fragile ecosystem. The current budget lacks the balanced and targeted support needed to help these businesses endure escalating financial pressures, protect jobs, and sustain community hubs essential to the UK’s cultural landscape, but more importantly, to start the recovery process and ultimately grow!”

NTIA Criticises Autumn Budget Impact On Fragile Nightlife Ecosystem: Extended Tapered Business Rates Relief Extension Insufficient Amid Challenging Sector Tax Hikes. The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) criticises the Government, despite the Chancellor extending business… pic.twitter.com/NAcWkezj4G — Night Time Industries Association (@wearethentia) October 30, 2024

The NTIA’s statement featured comments made by NTIA CEO Michael Kill. He stated: “We are in one of the toughest trading environments the UK has seen in decades for our sector, fraught with a legacy of challenges from previous crises. While the Chancellor has listened to our plight, the extended business rates relief is a minor concession amongst the array of tax increases and fiscal shifts, which will take some time to evaluate and consider regarding sector impacts. However, in simple terms it is still double the contribution of the current business rates”.

Today’s Budget will deliver on the promise of change.

Fixing the foundations of our economy.

Investing in our future.

Rebuilding Britain.

— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) October 30, 2024

It is evident the Autumn Budget has failed to provide ample aid to the night-life sector in Britain. Government intervention and safeguarding of venues appears to be the most necessary measures needed to promote the repair and growth of the industry. As the industry has been in decline prior to COVID in 2020, the Government’s attempts to support the industry in 2026 may be too little too late for the hundreds of venues facing financial troubles and closures.

The report follows a wider investigation into Britain’s late-night sector from COVID to present. The results are evidently quite worrying given that the UK has witnessed the closure of 480 nightclubs between June 2020 to June 2024. This is approximately 10 shutdowns a month, with two venues permanently closing their doors weekly.

Live Nation are reporting record profits

Meanwhile, the good people at @musicvenuetrust, @wearethentia or AIF:
– 2 grassroots venues are closing a week
– 67 clubs shut in Q1 2024
– 192 festivals have disappeared since 2019

Here’s how music fans can help https://t.co/jdrBw3yIOI

— Sean Adams (@seaninsound) September 26, 2024

Since COVID, UK nightlife have battled continual trials and tribulations with on-and-off-again national lockdowns and a cost of living crisis.

This catastrophic decline presented by the NTIA is an “alarming issue” which requires immediate government intervention to reshape and repair the nightlife industry. It is not simply venue closures at the forefront of the decline of nightlife, as the crisis will continue to “jeopardise not only jobs but the very heart of nightlife and culture in communities across the country”.

We all know Covid was a struggle for hospitality particularly@wearethentia has been studying the slow decline of our venues, and puts it down to two key factors:

The cost of living crisis
Difficulties with transport home

5/ pic.twitter.com/yNy1uvSjmF

— Matilda Davies (@matildakdavies) September 27, 2024

NTIA’s report highlighted a region by region insight into the detrimental state of nightlife in Britain. London, the North-East, the South and the South-East encountered the least decline, falling respectively by 29%, 20% and 34%. Whereas Yorkshire was the most affected, with a 45% decline in nightclub numbers since 2020. This was closely followed by Lancashire and the South-West which declined by 42%, along with the central region and Wales which both lost 41% and the East with 39%. In addition to this, the report also demonstrated Scotland’s placement in the crisis, with venues in Scotland decreasing by 34%. Following the report, the CEO of the NTIA, Michael Kill, released a statement responding to the report’s claims. Kill expressed “The nightclub and dance music sector is facing an unprecedented crisis… This rapid decline is devastating for our economy, culture and communities”.

The decimation of the UK’s nightlife, and pub culture, is shocking. According to Bloomberg:
– Three-quarters of nightclubs shut since 2005
– Number of pubs down by a quarter since 2000
– 13,800 nighttime businesses shut in 2020-23
– 35% London’s local music venues closed 2007-15

— Wessie du Toit (@wessiedutoit) October 1, 2024

Providing thorough context to the crisis, Kill continued: “Despite contributing millions in taxes, we are burdened with rising costs and a lack of essential public services. Late-night transport is unreliable, police presence is scarce, and venues are forced to spend on security and cleaning – services that should be publicly provided. Additionally, bureaucratic systems around licensing and planning are inconsistent and definitely not conducive to growth, weighing us down at every point”.

It is evident that government intervention will be paramount to heal the wounds of the late-night sector. He continued to emphasise the closing venues “aren’t just places to dance; they are vital spaces for community and creativity. Without urgent government intervention, we risk losing a key part of the UK’s cultural identity in dance music”.

Printworks is back!! NTIA Says Planning Consent A Positive Moment for London’s Nightlife “We are extremely pleased to hear the news that Printworks officially received planning consent for redevelopment on Tuesday night. This is an extremely positive moment for London’s… pic.twitter.com/QkxEOT0BEY — Night Time Industries Association (@wearethentia) September 25, 2024

The crisis has not only affected nightclubs but UK bar chains have also struggled, as the industry failed to report any sales growth over the last eight months. Rob Pitcher, the Chief Executive of Revolution Bars spoke to The Morning Advertiser following the closure of eight of its sites. Pitcher suggests the closures were “largely as a result of the changes in dynamic in the late-night economy and the pressures on the younger element of our guest base who are really struggling with the cost-of-living”.

In anticipation of next month’s budget, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association has demanded for government support by urging the chancellor to freeze alcohol duty.

The turmoil encountered by the night-life sector in NTIA’s report indicates that although some issues have become deeply entrenched in nightlife culture, the recuperation of nightlife for the rest of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 is dependent on government intervention.

The full report by the NTIA can be read here.

NTIA AND NDML RELEASE A ‘STUDY OF THE NIGHT TIME ECONOMY’ CGA REPORT:

Learn more and view the full report below: https://t.co/39of8XbJGN
#Savenightlife #Culture #NTE #NightTimeEconomy #Study #Report #Jobs #Hospitality #Latenight #UK pic.twitter.com/uTNPyTuP5K

— Night Time Industries Association (@wearethentia) October 11, 2021

Michael Kill, a CEO of NTIA commented on the case: “it is the worst possible time to introduce vaccine passports, which will further damage a sector essential to the economic recovery“. At the moment, vaccine passports are required in Scotland and Wales, with a plan to introduce them elsewhere been dismissed.
Sacha Lord, an event promoter and Manchesters economy adviser said: “We’re in a dire position and in order to recover to pre-pandemic levels, we need investment, strategy and most importantly, top-level acknowledgement of the industry’s contribution to the UK economy. Take any city, town or village in the UK, and you’ll find its pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are central to its recovery“.
“The nightlife scene is critical to our post-Brexit, post-Covid future and economic growth, and to ignore it would be a devastating blow to our cultural reputation” he continues.
Kill said about the report that it’s an important and long-overdue “piece of work” as “in my 25-year career working in UK nightlife, it has always struck me as so odd that we did not have a proper accounting of the value of this important sector. Today’s report puts that right, and is long overdue“.
Christian Wakeford, the Night-Time Economy and Conservative MP said regarding the issue: “It’s timely because at this moment, governments in Scotland and Wales are pressing ahead with chaotic vaccine passport plans, and the UK Government refuses to rule out their use in England. It is the worst possible time to introduce vaccine passports, which will further damage a sector essential to the economic recovery“.
There’s pressure on the Chancellor to use the budget wisely and support the night-life sector with the extension of “the 12.5 per cent rate of VAT on hospitality until 2024, include door sales in that reduced rate of VAT, because the present system punishes nightclubs that rely on door sales rather than selling tickets, and for him to ensure there are no increases in Alcohol Duties – our sector really cannot afford any additional burdens“.
Last month UK Government scrapped plans to introduce vaccine passports to gain entry into an event. The scheme was announced earlier in the year but fortunately for the night-life economy, it’s been dismissed. Scottish Government hoverer put it into life on 1st October, Wales followed that path and introduced compulsory Covid Pass today (11th October.
As per new law in Wales “all over-18s need one to enter nightclubs, indoor non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions, outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people and any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance. People will also be able to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours“.
Fake coronavirus test results and vaccination status will be treated as a criminal offence and face penalty notice.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat