UK’s nightlife is dying as we turn into nation of early birds who’d reasonably watch Netflix
Brits may be fond of a night out, but new research has found many of us are opting to leave the nightclubs behind in favour of a cosier evening in bingeing a series at home
Britain is turning into a nation of early birds – killing off the UK’s nightlife scene with the closure of hundreds of clubs. For the first time, the early evening period has overtaken nights on the tiles as the most popular time to drink and eat out.
And the nation’s clubbing scene is being decimated by the trend for Brits preferring to spend their nights at home in front of Netflix. Town and city centres have lost nearly 450 nightspots since 2020 when the UK boasted 1,247 clubs – there are now fewer than 800, according to the Nightclub Industries Report.
Industry analysts CGA by NIQ, which worked with trade body the Night Time Industries Association, said: “Across all hospitality channels, the 5pm to 7pm slot has now overtaken 7pm to 10pm as the biggest earning trading period of the average day, as consumers opt for earlier, shorter social experiences. The post-7pm slot now generates 31.5% of all sales, compared with 34.3% two years ago.”
It added: “Closures in the late-night sector are primarily due to rising operational costs, as well as a shift in consumer habits, driven by worries over safety and the lack of reliable late-night transport. The sector is calling for urgent Government help to reverse this trend.”
Meanwhile, DJ to the stars Fat Tony has slammed smartphones for “ruining the vibe” on the dancefloor. The disc jockey, real name Tony Marnach, who counts Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Boy George as close chums, said screens took clubbers “out of the moment”.
Tony, who spun the decks at Harry and Meghan’s wedding reception, was responding to a survey by Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses that found over half of UK revellers agreed phones ruined the clubbing experience. Speaking ahead of the Christmas partying season, he said: “Phones have been a blessing and a curse in my DJing life.
“While I love to be able to document so many special moments, their overuse has certainly ruined the vibe on many a dancefloor at the most iconic establishments. Clubbing is all about energy and connection to the music, and while capturing that matters, the reality is screens take us out of the moment.”
It comes after a report found that almost 14,000 bars and nightclubs across the UK have had to shut their doors in just four years. That equates to around one third of Britain’s entire nightlife industry.
Figures released last year found that 35% of independent nightclubs had to close down forever between March 2020 and December 2023. Bosses in the nighttime industry have since called on the government to provide more support for the sector after being hit hard by both the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said at the time: “These figures are a stark reminder of the devastation caused by the last three years, and will without doubt anger and frustrate people within the sector. Our sector has been neglected twice by the government in financial support during budget allocations, subjected to political manoeuvres aimed at securing votes.
“These statistics unmistakably reflect the crisis gripping our sector, leaving the government with no choice but to take decisive action,” Kill added. He also urged customers to get out and make the most of the industry, thanks to the abundance of different bars and nightclubs that keep Britain’s fun-loving heart beating.
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