NTIA warns December 31, 2029, could be the UK’s "last night out"

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has issued a warning that, at the current rate of closing, all major UK nightclubs will be extinct by 31, December 2029 – making it the country’s “last night out”.

With a recent report from CGA Neilson revealing the UK has lost three nightclubs a week since the start of 2024, putting that figure at 65 in total, this year marks the highest rate of UK club closures to date.

In its announcement (released October 24), NTIA says that we have lost over 150 night time venues a year, since March 2020.

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“We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of the night-time economy,” says NTIA CEO Michael Kill. “Our industry is not just about entertainment; it’s about identity, community, and the economy."

“Losing our clubs means losing jobs, culture, and a vital part of the UK’s social fabric. Without urgent intervention, December 31, 2029, will be the last night out and the end of a clubbing era that has defined generations."

In response to this news, NTIA has launched a campaign calling on the government to address the issue at hand.

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Created by the agency McCann London, The Last Night Out campaign comprises posters aiming to raise awareness of the situation, along with a petition and letter to MPs (available for the public to use) calling for the government to take action.

In the petition and the letter, NTIA lays out its demands to the newly elected Labour government.

These include “sustained and meaningful” financial support for the sector “starting with extending business rates relief beyond April 2025”. It says that “temporary relief measures are no longer sufficient; the sector needs long-term strategies to stabilise and foster growth”.

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Secondly, it asks for the “recognition of nightclubs and venues as cultural institutions”, stating that “venues such as fabric, SubClub, and Ministry of Sound are not mere entertainment spaces – they are cultural landmarks.”

“The NTIA calls for these iconic clubs and others like them to be recognised as National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) on par with galleries and museums. These venues deserve the same considerations, protections, and funding as other cultural institutions, acknowledging their crucial role in the UK’s cultural heritage.”

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Finally, it calls upon the government to urgently “review policies and regulations that disproportionately impact night-time venues.” This includes, it says, “revisiting licensing laws, business rates, VAT, and planning policies to create a more supportive environment for the industry”.

In the past four months, Mixmag has reported on several music venues hat have closed down, or are in the process of doing so, including Tiger Tiger and MOKO in London, The Carlton Club and Partisan Collective in Manchester, and The Shed in Glasgow.

The reasons for closing range from eviction notices to re-development plans to the financial burden of running a venue during the cost of living crisis.

Sign up for the petition here, or send a letter to your MP.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram