65 nightclubs in the UK have closed down since the start of 2024, a new report from CGA Neilson has revealed.
Statistics show that three clubs in the UK are closing every single week as it stands, or around 11 per month – a higher rate of club closures than seen in previous years.
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called it an “alarming issue” which threatens to “jeopardise not only jobs but the very heart of nightlife and culture in communities across the country.”
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“The nightclub and dance music sector is facing an unprecedented crisis. Since June 2020, we’ve been losing two nightclubs every week, but in the last six months, this has escalated to three per week,” says NTIA CEO Michael Kill.
Kill says that the “rapid decline” in clubs will have a “devastating impact” on the UK’s economy, culture, and communities in nightlife.
A previous report from CGA Neilson revealed that between June 2020 and June 2024, the UK lost 480 nightclubs with an average of around 10 closures per month.
The latest report shows that in the central region of the UK, only 118 of 200 clubs remain from 2020 to 2024, marking a “catastrophic loss” of 41%.
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In Scotland and Wales, the number of nightclubs has dropped by more than a third since 2020. CGA Neilson notes that the hardest hit area of the UK is Yorkshire, with a 45% reduction.
The NTIA is now calling on the government to implement “immediate support” for the UK’s nightlife sector. “Despite contributing millions in taxes, we are burdened with rising costs and a lack of essential public services,” says Kill.
“While long-term reform is welcome, it will come too late for many businesses unless immediate support is provided to reverse the accelerating closure rate. The UK’s nightclubs are irreplaceable, and urgent intervention is needed to ensure they remain a vibrant part of our cultural identity.”
Read the full report here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter