MARCH | TRENDING
Clubbed to
death?
Nightclubs have suffered a hit, but that
could be changing say experts
M
illennials are less inclined
towards clubbing than previous
generations, or so the statistics
suggest. However, there’s more at play,
including heavier regulation and tighter
spending habits.
A report by the Night Time Commission,
created by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in
2017, suggested a raft of measures to keep
Londoners occupied in the wee hours. These
included opening libraries, markets, parks,
museums and shops past 6pm.
Green Party London Assembly Member
Caroline Russell however raised the issue
of wages. “It’s disappointing that there is no
recommendation about pay in today’s report
for people working at night, when over half
of million of them are already paid below the
London Living Wage.
London’s night-time economy employs
1.6 million people – making up one third of
London’s workforce, but can it grow further
still, and have these measures worked?
12
A recent report by inRead invented by
Teads published 10 recommendations to
attract more Londoners out of their homes
between 6pm and 6am.
It says the Mayor should set up a transport
group to ensure that workers and visitors
can get around quickly and safely at night.
It reads: “The group should consider
extending night services, introducing a
‘night rider’ fare that allows workers to move
between bus, Tube, train, DLR or tram on a
single fare, and encourage more use of TfL’s
land and buildings at night.”
The night-time economy is already
regarded as a success. A third of jobs and a
quarter of public transport trips are at night.
Two-thirds of Londoners, meanwhile, say
they are active at night, working, socialising,
at sport or cultural events or doing chores.
The NTIA’s head Alan Miller tells Access
that the decline in clubbing has been real
and more still needs to be done. “Over
14 years there has been enormous loss,
particularly in London (with many venues
over 1000 capacity in particular closing).
Most of the issues have been linked to issues
to do with over-regulation, licensing and
cost within that too, increasing security,
further requirements and expectations on
licensed premises to take responsibility for
ever further aspects both within and often
around the venues.
Miller says that, while early evenings in
Soho and Shoreditch may look deceptively
busy, the loss of later night premises in
Soho has been devastating. “Many clubs
and venues have sprung up in Hackney and
Lambeth - but there are so very few opening
past 3am
He adds, however, that London has had
major successes recently. “Printworks is
enormous with flexible licensing, while
FOLD in Newham recently and EarTh, by
the same owners of Village Underground
have sprung up. Lots of good things have
happened – from our on-going lobbying