The UK's Night Venues Face Extinction

News & Features

Major night venues are giving warnings that they may not reopen.

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...venues such as London's Printworks, Fabric and Ministry of Sound have called for support to prevent permanent closure.

Across the UK, night venues have been unable to operate since March 2020. Sound systems have fallen silent and staff furloughed indefinitely. The businesses have suffered huge losses and even the major venues such as London's Printworks, Fabric and Ministry of Sound have called for support to prevent permanent closure.

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...chancellor Rishi Sunak offered a solution for individuals who found themselves out of work to retrain and find different jobs.

Broadwick Live, the parent company that operates Printworks asked a third of it's staff to take redundancy and has warned that the company is fighting for survival.


During the UK's coronavirus response, the music industry has shrunk resulting in thousands without work. The government has been the focus of criticism for failing to offer enough support to the live music industry. Criticism has been made of how support measures have favoured big businesses and larger corporations rather than grass root, smaller independent venues.


It is estimated that 191,000 jobs were associated to the late night venue trade in 2018. Doubts of support for the industry were further enhanced when chancellor Rishi Sunak offered a solution for individuals who found themselves out of work to retrain and find different jobs.

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Written by

Editorial Team • 21 October 2020
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