The Decline of Nightlife on a National Level

It seems that nightclubs are not what they once were. This once thriving industry is turning into a cause for concern for DJs, event owners and clubs as interest in these places appear to be dwindling. Strobe lights and late nights seem to be less and less appealing for the current youth but why is this?

Since the 2020 Covid Crisis completely altered the nation’s definition of normality, the clubbing sector of society has been one of many to be negatively impacted. Data collected by NME shows that 37 percent of UK clubs have shut permanently since these unprecedented times. Based on these figures, this would mean that all nightlife locations would be closed by 2030. A handful of Newcastle University students were asked their thoughts surrounding this apparent apathy.

Daisy Reinsch, a second year journalism student, stated that she ‘has never had a desire to go clubbing’. ‘Freshers is more of a pressure to make friends but other than that, it’s never appealed to [her]’.

Alternatively, following various questions with students, a re-occurring issue seems to be cost. With the cost of living crisis being more prevalent than ever, a night out is not a top priority for students on a tight budget. Entry fees, wristbands, drinks, even the cloakroom costs money -everything adds up. 

Elisa Muratovic, a third year Politics student, says she ‘would rather save the money and stay in bed’. 

Many students have in fact turned to a sober lifestyle given that clubbing does not have the same emphasis it used to. Sober Society, Baking Society and Dance Society are just a few of the hundreds of clubs available for students that do not require a night of clubbing and drinking

Ultimately, clubbing is not what it used to be. With Gen Z placing more emphasis on house parties, pre-drinking and pub nights, clubs are seen as more juvenile and boring. The pandemic also seems to have stunted any interest in this sector leading for many to choose a sober night in, binging Netflix with a takeaway.

This apathy towards clubs also to appear more the older a person gets. As Reinsch stated in her audio, Freshers only [places pressure to bond with the initial people you meet at university] and subsequently, each year, less and less students are concerned with clubbing.

However, it is important to note that the clubbing/nightlife market is incredibly important to not just the economy, but it’s important in preserving identity and self expression. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association stated that losing this sector would mean ‘losing a vital part of the UK’s social fabric’. 

There have been calls for current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer to review this dying sector by implementing plans to secure the night-time economy. Pressure from institutes previously mentioned such as the NTIA have called for the protection of heritage clubs such as Ministry of Sound and SubClub, on the basis of preserving culture. This governmental pressure has been placed by ‘the Last Night Out Campaign’. For more details, see here: https://ntia.co.uk/the-last-night-out/