NIGHTCLUBS have warned they will not see the end of the month after government failures through the pandemic and a lack of Covid support. 

Without urgent action 2021 will see the extinction of nightclubs, warns the Night Time Industries Association, who says the industry has been "ignored".

The organisation says the "failure so far of the UK Government to recognise the devastating impact of their actions on the sector is a tragedy for UK Culture".

Nightclubs and late night venues have been closed since March, with many in the industry suggesting they will not survive past the end of February.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), says ack of appropriate financial support for the sector from the Government and proposed changes to planning laws that would allow landlords to convert venues into housing are just some of the reasons clubs may go out of business.

He also said the "inability for venues to access finance from financial institutions" and the lack of a roadmap out of lockdown means the industry is facing prolonged uncertainty as it remains closed. 

A survey of 100 businesses, taken in December, revealed 88 per cent of nightclubs are in over two months rent arrears, with 50 per cent over three.

81 per cent of nightclubs surveyed said they will not survive past February without further support from the Government, while 86 per cent have made redundancies.

Over 40 per cent (43) of clubs responding also said they had not received any support grant from the Government. 

Mr Kill said: “We are on the cusp of losing a cultural institution, the Government has ignored the sector and failed to recognise its economic and cultural value.

“We are a world leader in electronic music and clubs - and have been a breeding ground for contemporary music talent, events and DJ's for decades. Nightclubs have made a huge contribution to our cultural sector and are renowned globally

"Throughout this pandemic and the restrictive measures levied against the sector, it is clear that these businesses are being systematically eradicated from society.

"As they continue to be excluded from the narrative of press announcements and planning, and through misconceptions and misguided understanding of the sector, from age old stereotyping the sector has been given little or no opportunity to re-engage even with very clear ability to open spaces safely.

“The current proposed changes in planning reform under permitted development rights is a huge threat to the sector as this has the potential to allow for the demolition and rebuilding of 'vacant and redundant' light industrial buildings as homes, given that over 88 per cent of hightclub businesses are over two-quarters of rent in arrears, we are poised for a windfall of landlords at the end of March when the Forfeiture Moratoria comes to end, reclaiming their property and utilising this mechanism to convert many of our much loved cultural spaces and social environments into housing.

"Consider this as an industry, we have faced extreme adversity during this pandemic battling against financial hardship, increased regulatory constraints, business-critical planning changes, financial services turning their backs on us and the continued refusal for the leaders of this country to mention nightclubs or late night venues within the narrative - this is not negligence, this an intention to cull the sector advertently.

"These amazing creative spaces are the breeding grounds for nurturing talent, bringing communities together, building resilience and expanding the global phenomenon around UK club culture and electronic and live music."

Mr Kill is calling for greater support nightclubs a robust financial package, a robust financial package and a roadmap to reopening.

Freelance promoter Laila Mckenzie, founder of Parallel Dimensions, said: “I have organised & promoted nightclub events for 18 years, not only is it my livelihood but it is my life. Venues are so important to our culture in the UK, nearly every festival organiser starts as a nightclub promoter.

"Nearly every big stage artist begins as a club artist.  Without venues so many other businesses will be lost, it's just the night time economy that will suffer losing venues will have a domino effect. How will it be for the future generations without nightclubs to visit - life will be very bleak without them. We need to act now to save our venues.”