THIS week, the Night Time Industries Association sounded a warning that, unless urgent action is taken to halt the alarming rate of nightclub closures across the UK, then the very existence of clubbing is at risk by the end of this decade. They say we are currently losing venues across the UK at a rate of three per week. In Scotland , there are now just 82 nightclubs left, down from 125 in 2020.
Of course, this is before the impact of the UK Government’s changes to national insurance which will hit these venues financially too. Since the pandemic, Glasgow has lost the likes of the Blue Arrow Jazz Club and the 13th Note Cafe. Larger venues are being impacted too, including The Shed nightclub which was forced to close its doors last month, and The Garage nightclub which has recently reduced its opening hours.
For a city like Glasgow which has built a global reputation for great nights out and for supporting a huge array of musical talent, the consequences are stark unless the trend is reversed. Scotland-wide, night-time industries contribute more than £10 billion to the economy each year as well as supporting more than 137,000 jobs. Much of this is generated in Glasgow.
Venues, from King Tut’s to the Sub Club, as well as providing a place to dance, also contribute massively to the identity of our city, help to inspire and nurture creative talent, and support a wider cultural ecosystem. There can be no better illustration of this than the life and legacy of Jack Revill, aka.
