Nightclubs and bars to be supported by parliamentary group

A cross-party group of MPs and peers have joined forces to give a stronger voice to late-night businesses in parliament.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Night Time Economy will be chaired by Labour MP Jeff Smith, a former events manager and DJ. The group will work with the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which represents 1,200 UK bars, clubs, casinos and music venues and will provide insight to the group.

Venues such as nightclubs still have no set reopening date and many other businesses have been shut since March.

Smith said: "The night-time sector is hugely important to both the UK economy and our cultural identity. But in the past nine months, it has faced enormous challenges, and thousands of bars, nightclubs, and live events businesses are at risk of collapse.

"We will be working hard to ensure that this usually viable, thriving and world-leading sector can not only survive the Covid crisis, but prepare for a prosperous, long-term recovery."

The NTIA has warned nightclubs face "extinction from UK culture" without further intervention and has called on the government to compensate the losses of businesses which are still unable to trade.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: "We are extremely pleased to have the support of many cross-party parliamentarians, and believe that this group will have a substantial part to play in the regeneration of the night time economy in the next 12 months."

Late-night businesses that have struggled include Deltic Group, which was trading from around 50 late-night bars and clubs in March but put itself up for sale in October in a bid to stave off bankruptcy.

Revolution Bars closed six sites and moved to a turnover-based rent on seven others after entering a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) last month.

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