31 per cent of UK nightclubs closed last year, as industry demands government action

nme.com:

‌ “In light of this urgent situation, the NTIA demands that the government takes immediate action to provide financial relief to struggling nightclubs.

Central to this relief is the imperative for the government to reduce VAT to 12.5 per cent across the board, failing which further closures across the sector are inevitable.”The recent report follows claims by the NTIA back in March, which saw the association claim that the UK government was “intentionally” closing down nightclubs and venues across the country, as it saw the nightlife sector as “a burden on policing and local government”.Similarly, in August the association shared that over 100 independent nightclubs across the UK have been forced to close down over the past year.The strain put on local music spaces across the UK is by no means a new issue.

Back in January last year, it was shared that one-third of UK nightclubs closed by the end of 2022, and the problem would continue to worsen without government intervention.More recently, last month the results were shared for 2023 – revealing a “disaster” that hit grassroots music venues across the 12 months.Among the key findings into their “most challenging year”, it has been reported that last year saw 125 UK venues abandon live music and that over half of them had shut entirely – including the legendary Moles in Bath.

Some of the more pressing constraints were reported as soaring energy prices, landlords increasing rate amounts, supply costs, business rates, licensing issues, noise complaints and the continuing shockwaves of COVID-19.Overall, it was found that venues’ rent had increased by 37.5 per cent, with them operating at an average profit margin of just 0.5 per cent..