Close Menu
News

Urgent clarity needed on reopening UK nightclubs

Trade group UK Hospitality is calling on the government to provide urgent clarity on the reopening of nightclubs and offer financial support to prevent the loss of thousands of jobs.

Nightclubs in the UK remain closed

Bars, pubs and restaurants in England were allowed to reopen, both indoors and outdoors, from 4 July after being told to close on 20 March to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

However, close-proximity venues, such as nightclubs, were told to remain closed until further notice.

UK Hospitality is calling for details on a roadmap to reopening the UK’s nightclubs as many venues have been left in limbo with no clear guidance.

The trade body wrote to Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, on 29 July asking the government to provide an explanation of its plans for reopening nightclubs.

In the letter UK Hospitality highlighted the important role of nightclubs to the UK’s economy, along with their social value.

UK Hospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls, said: “Each day that passes feels like a day closer to more business failures and jobs losses, without any plan to inform business planning. Venues are in limbo, uncertain of when – or even if – they will be able to reopen their doors.

“Keeping businesses in the dark helps nobody. We must be told when we can reopen and given reassurance that financial support will be forthcoming to ensure these businesses don’t go under with the loss of potentially thousands of jobs.”

UK Hospitality has now repeated its call for clarity and reiterated the need for financial support to help businesses and prevent job losses.

Peter Marks, chief executive of The Deltic Group, the UK’s largest operator of late-night bars and nightclubs, said: “Much of the rest of the sector has been permitted to reopen, but nightclubs are still closed.

“The clubbing season in the UK traditionally begins to get busy in September, so we are now less than one month away from a potentially make-or-break period.

“We have used science-backed plans that take into account our specific issues with absolutely every precaution to ensure that nightclubs can be fully risk-assessed and be as safe as possible for both customers and staff.

“That means controlled entry systems, training for our staff, improved ventilation systems and minimal touch points on site. We are ready to welcome customers back safely straight away, but the government is keeping us closed.”

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No