For a number of years now we have seen fewer people spend their weekends at nightclubs. What was a popular pastime and a sense of escapism at the weekends for young people now seems to be falling behind with the times, leading to a number of venues being forced to shut their doors for good. Several chains have already succumbed to the mounting financial pressure that a lack of numbers has resulted in, but how long before changes are made to the dancefloor for good?
The real game changer in this conversation, perhaps the biggest moment for the nightlife since the pandemic, was when Pryzm announced it would be closing in February this year. The popular UK nightclub chain that had 17 venues across England including Birmingham and Leeds, blamed the cost of living crisis and COVID for shutting down, while Roxy, had been a fixture in Auckland New Zealand before its closure later in the month.
“The cost of living is singularly the biggest issue that we face.” Pyrzym’s chief executive of Rekom Peter Marks said. “A lot of students who used to be paying, say, £800 a month for their accommodation, have been facing [higher rents of] £1,200 a month,”
“Obviously people still like coming out, [but] if money is tight [they] are coming later, so they’re arriving at our doors later and they’re spending less. .I walked around between 7pm and 11pm, and there were no more than 200 people out in the city. Two years before, it would have been really quite busy and buzzing.”
But if night life is going to remain on the decline, as many figures already indicate, what are some other options for people heading out at the weekends? Let’s explore some other ways to spend the weekend if you still want a taste of entertainment after a week of work. Read on to find out more.
Music events
While nightclubs might be on their way out, there are still a plethora of music events to enjoy. A lot of spaces have been repurposed to host concerts and raves, so there is something for every type of music.
While you might not be able to find your favourite artist on tour, especially if they are internationally recognised and tickets will sell quickly, why not try a local, independent artist that is performing closer to you? Quite often these artists will be new to their craft and want to improve their stage presence, making it the perfect opportunity to get your requests in and have a dance to your number one song, without the thrashing around and barging that can come with a nightclub experience. On top of that, the majority are at smaller venues so the drinks will be easy to access and much cheaper.
Then of course there are raves, an entirely different kettle of fish. These are for the more extreme of us that prefer a more intense music experience, with the neon lights and smoke still redolent of the club but in a much bigger space to dance and enjoy the atmosphere. Some of the most popular rave venues are actually just fields and warehouses that have been equipped with all the goods to get the music on, and they are great at bringing out your group’s personality, with people often dressing in bright colours and using UV paint.
A trip to the casino
While a lot of young people use their phones to make bets, checking the football scores for their accumulators, and having a punt on the roulette before heading out, the lack of night life may mean a new generation visits the land based casino venues as their night out.
The majority of big cities will have their own dedicated venue, each with its own unique architecture and feel, as well as drinks promotions and shows that will keep younger punters around beyond the spin of the wheel or throw of the dice. While they could play at an online casino in NZ dollars the atmosphere at a real casino is unmatched, with a range of emotions as well as a stacked bar to either start the night in style or to make a regular spot going forward.
Those are just two alternatives to enjoy nightlife as it continues to suffer. With talks of funding from different governments looking to alleviate some of that pressure on big venues, there is every chance that DJs will return to their decks and the dancefloors will once again be packed at the weekends. The figures are certainly a concern but only time will tell if going out will ever be as good as it used to be.
By Chris Bates
