Andy Burnham backs an excellent night time out, saying pubs and golf equipment are ‘beating coronary heart of Britain’

Musicians and nightclub promoters are already dancing to Andy Burnham’s tune, after the new Prime Minister announced a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “I’ll be honest, I grew up on nights out in Manchester, from the Haçienda to the little rooms where the next big act cuts its teeth.

“Those places gave people like me somewhere to belong, and I’ve watched too many go dark. For too long governments have stood by while they’ve been boarded up and handed to developers one by one. Not anymore.

“From April we’re cutting business rates for nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues, real money back in their tills. These places are the beating heart of our communities. We’re bringing hope back to every high street. Get this right and there’s good growth, and a night out worth having, in every town in Britain.”

While he was still Mayor of Manchester, he also backed calls to cut the VAT rate for hospitality businesses from 20% down to 10% – although this has not yet been announced as Government policy.

And with TicketSource reporting that 48% of live music and entertainment venues launched in 2025 have already closed, any financial relief can’t come soon enough. Rapper Tinie Tempah, whose music has provided the soundtrack to numerous nights out, thanks nightclubs for launching his career. He says: “Venues are closing at an alarming rate. As an artist, they’re where I earned my stripes.”

One in four late night venues have closed since 2020, with a further 4% decline into 2026, according to the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor. Legendary LGBTQ+ bar Circa, which opens until 1am in London’s Soho, recently announced it is closing after 15 years. While the closure of Popworld and Ark made a big dent to Manchester’s Deansgate Locks, which was once one of the most thriving places in the city.

And the same pattern of closures is being repeated nationwide. Tinie Tempah, who found fame with Pass Out in 2010, and recently performed at Roundhay Festival in Leeds, has returned to music after an eight year hiatus and is fighting to keep nightclubs open.

He says: “My music works incredibly well in a nightlife setting. The reason I’m still here to this day is because of my slog around the UK, playing all of the little grassroots venues from when I was a lad aged 16, building that connection with audiences. I played all sorts and went through the highs and lows of a sold-out venue to 12 people being there, a stiff crowd.”

Gigging at nightclubs was once the way that artists found a fan base. Tinie says: “Being able to do a gig every weekend, for an independent artist, was definitely like a game-changer. If we’re on the verge of losing this as a culture, what does that mean for the next generation of artists?”

Berlin’s techno scene was officially added to the German UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in March 2024, according to Tinie. He says: “A protective label was placed over the techno scene and some of the more significant venues in Berlin. Why are we not trying to do that in the UK?

“We’ve birthed so many exciting genres from this tiny island, partly down to these grassroots music venues that have gone on to resonate and influence people all over the world. Historic venues are being given over to property developers – just look at the Manchester Hacienda. Why are we allowing this to happen?”

The star argues that hitting the dance floor is good for the body and the soul. He says: “It’s good for you physically, and dancing releases endorphins, serotonin.”

Nightclubs are also a good place to mix and make friends, says Tinie. He adds: “Post-pandemic we got into a mindset of staying away from each other. But connecting with someone, regardless of their race, age, background, sexual orientation, over a song, is so powerful.

“It was great what Andy Burnham did in Manchester, now the Government does need to step in and do something about nightlife.”

Another star, Norman Cook aka DJ Fatboy Slim, teamed up with charity Music Venue Properties and bought Brighton punk rock venue The Pipeline, which was facing closure. He says: “It now belongs to the community and I’m very proud to be part of that community. I played here two weeks ago and it was fabulous.”

British music promoter and entrepreneur Sacha Lord, who co-founded The Warehouse Project club night and Parklife festival in Manchester, was Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser under Mayor Andy Burnham from 2018 to January 2025.

He says: “Andy was once in Freight Island next door to The Warehouse Project and his kids wanted to come in. So he messaged me and I was like, ‘you’ve got to come as well, Andy.’ He told me, ‘no, it’s not my thing, it’s not my thing.’ Anyway, I took him on stage and he absolutely loved Chic with Nile Rodgers. Angela Rayner has been in too, and Bev Craig, who is set to be the new Mayor of Manchester. They all like a little boogie.”

Praising Mr Burnham for cutting the business rate, he says: “He absolutely gets it. He loves live music. He loves gigs. He’s not one of these people who likes to stand in a sanitised corporate box. He’s going to be a nightmare for Special Branch, because he will still want to sit in his seats at Everton. He won’t want to sit in the Chairman’s Lounge.

“A few weeks ago when James played at the Co-op Live, the venue heard he was coming via his office, and said, ‘oh, we’ll give you a box.’ And it’s like, ‘well, no, I want to be on the floor with everybody,’ and he took his son, Jimmy.”

But Mr Lord says a VAT reduction must also come soon. He says: “The bottom line is that night clubs have been absolutely crushed. No one’s making any money at the moment, so that VAT reduction would make a big difference.”

Marc Carter, founder of clubbing institution Ultravegas, agrees, saying: “The cost of venues, artists, security, production, insurance and marketing has increased enormously. That makes every event a financial risk and leaves promoters working incredibly hard right up until the doors open.

“The cost-of-living crisis has clearly affected people too. The saddest part is that when clubs and events disappear, we lose far more than businesses. Nightlife creates friendships, relationships, memories and communities. It gives people somewhere to escape the pressures of everyday life and express themselves. It also gives emerging DJs, artists, performers and promoters somewhere to learn their craft.”

Stu Margetts, one half of DJ duo ARKO // STU and co-founder of Ibiza Revival Events adds: “The industry needs meaningful government support. Local authorities also need to recognise nightlife as an important part of our culture. My message to Andy Burnham would be, ‘take the approach you championed in Manchester onto the national stage.’”