A new NTIA report has highlighted the loss of venues across the country, with northern regions being hit particularly hard by club losses.
A new report from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), has highlighted the crisis currently facing the UK nightlife industry, with three nightclubs shuttering a week between December 2023 and June 2024.
Altogether, 65 nightclubs have been lost since, and continues a worrying trend of club closures over the past few years. Between June 2020 and June 2024, 480 clubs shuttered across the UK, with rising costs and weak transport infrastructure increasingly making it difficult for venues to continue operating.
Northern regions of England have been hit the hardest in that time, with Lancashire seeing a reduction of 42 percent (104 clubs open down from 178), while Yorkshire has been the hardest hit area, with 45 percent (73 down from 132) of venues being lost, including long-running clubs such as Wire. London has lost 29 percent of its dancefloors, with 143 remaining out of 200.
Michael Kill, NTIA CEO reflected on the growing costs and difficulties that venues are facing. He said: “The nightclub and dance music sector is facing an unprecedented crisis. Since 2020, we’ve been losing two nightclubs every week, but in the last six months, this has escalated to three per week. This rapid decline is devastating for our economy, culture and communities.
“Despite contributing millions in taxes, we are burdened with rising costs and a lack of essential public services,” he continued. “Late-night transport is unreliable, police presence is scarce, and venues are forced to spend on security and cleaning – services that should be publicly provided.
“Our sector is treated like an afterthought, yet it supports jobs, tourism and hospitality. These venues aren’t just places to dance; they are vital spaces for community and creativity. Without urgent government intervention, we risk losing a key part of the UK’s cultural identity in dance music. We need immediate action to prevent further closures.”
