1/3 of the UK nightlife sector at risk following the latest government announcement

News broke this morning that a decision by senior UK government ministers had leaked, bringing uncertainty and potentially irreversible peril to the UK’s nightlife sector. 

According to the Prime Minister’s roadmap for reopening the UK, indoor hospitality – including nightclubs – was to be reopened on 21st June with new safety measures in place.

In a disgruntling u-turn by the Prime Minister, indoor hospitality will now remain at its current capacity for a further four weeks – much to the dismay of many. 

A recent report from the NTIA has shown that 1 in 4 businesses will not survive longer than one month without further Government support and 50% no longer than two months. According to a flash survey carried out by the Night-Time Industries Association, 54% of businesses have spent over £15K in preparation for reopening on 21st June. From that figure, 17.8% have already spent over £40K.

These kinds of statistics are already harrowing for most people, but it gets even worse than that. 58% of businesses estimate they will lose over £10K per week in revenue whilst restricted from trading or closed – due to the delay in the easing of lockdown on 21st June. To add to that, 33% of businesses estimate they will lose over 30% of their workforce between now and 21st June.

It’s a bleak outlook at very best, as the decision stands to cut away almost 1/3 of the UK’s nightlife industry – leaving almost certainly irreparable damage in its wake. 

Speaking on the further suffocation of UK nightlife by another four weeks: “The Government must understand the human impact of this decision, not only considering the public health challenges of the virus but also the people within our sector who are suffering terribly and the real health risks that this represents, given the overwhelming confidence in the vaccination rollout, and the ability for the sector to deliver Covid safe environments.” says NTIA CEO, Michael Kill.

There is no secret here. We are at a pivotal point whereby our scene and our culture is under personal attack. Like many others, we feel that this either cannot go ahead; or has to be suitable financial intervention from the Government to ensure that we do not pass a point of no return.