The CEO of Rekon UK, Peter Marks, has claimed that one of the reasons for the closure of nightclubs across the UK is due to young people drinking less. He cited the changes in drinking habits, as well as the cost of living crisis and soaring rent prices, as reasons behind the decrease in club goers. Marks acknowledged that people still enjoy going out, but they are arriving later and spending less money due to financial strain.
This statement comes after the future of Kingston Pryzm was placed into doubt last month, following the administration of its owner, Rekom UK. The company had cited increased energy prices and students cutting back due to the current cost of living as challenges within the nighttime industry over the past year. Despite this setback, Banquet Records confirmed last week that Kingston Pryzm will remain open, and the CEO’s recent statement suggests that there is still hope for other nightclubs to stay afloat.
However, statistics published this week revealed that around 31% of nightclubs in the UK have closed over the last three years. The Night Time Industries Association has identified a “profound and systematic marginalisation of the nightclub sector”, which poses a threat to the “vitality of our cultural landscape”. Another report published in January showed the “disaster” that struck the UK’s grassroots music venues in 2023, with calls increasing for a ticket levy on larger arenas and investment from the wider industry.
It is clear that the nightclub industry in the UK is facing numerous challenges, and while the decrease in drinking among young people may be contributing to the problem, it is just one piece of a complex puzzle. The government and wider industry must take action to address the crisis and ensure the survival of this important cultural and social institution
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