Nightlife Venues Driven Out Of City Centres By Rising Pressures

Independent nightlife venues across the UK are struggling to survive amid a cocktail of high costs, low footfall and oppressive regulation that is squeezing them out of city centres.

- Robyn Vinter 

Last week, the bar Night & Day in Manchester won a partial victory in a legal battle over a noise abatement notice that began when a neighbouring flat complained about gigs and DJ sets going on late into the night.

In court, a compromise was found: the venue could continue with club nights until 3am but needed to turn the music down after 11pm.

The district judge Margaret McCormack said despite Night & Day being on Oldham Street for more than 30 years, when the Northern Quarter was more run down, Manchester was "evolving" and the flat residents had a right to be able to use their property.

While this represents a partial victory, other venues have not been so fortunate in their fight for survival.

Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said: "We're seeing a 30 to 40% increase in operating costs and a 15% to 20% downturn in trade due to people having less disposable income." This was coupled with poor public transport and safety fears on city streets, he said. Fights with landlords and problems with developers are also an increasing threat.

Last year, a bitter row erupted in Sheffield over the future of the Leadmill, the music venue credited with launching the careers of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and Self Esteem, when the building's owner refused to renew the lease, instead planning to take over the running of the venue.