Tax Shock Threatens Fragile Nightlife Recovery - NTIA NTE Market Tracker Reports 15.8% Contraction in Independent Businesses 09 Jun 2025
- The second Night Time Economy Market Monitor was published today, offering the most comprehensive snapshot yet of the UK’s nightlife landscape, produced by the Night Time Industries Association in partnership with CGA by NIQ.
- The report presents cautious signs of recovery but highlights sharp warnings about the ongoing and escalating fragility of the sector, particularly for independent venues.
- The sector is clear that minor signs of year-on-year recovery are under immediate threat from the devastating Autumn Budget of rising costs, taxes and declining consumer confidence - highlighted by recent business and consumer surveys.
Key Findings from the Second Market Monitor:
- Independent businesses have suffered disproportionately with 15.8% closed since March 2020, compared to 3.2% for managed groups - with a modest 0.9% growth in the past year failing to offset concerningly high closure rates.
- While there was a 5.4% annual increase in nightclub numbers - the first positive figure since 2020 - the sector remains down in numbers by over a third (34%) in total - the equivalent of three closures every week for five years.
- The night time economy (6pm-6am) has grown by a very modest 0.2% year-on-year, but is still 13.6% smaller than pre-pandemic (March 2020).
- Evening economy venues (5pm–11pm) are up 4.9% year-on-year, but remain well below pre-pandemic levels after a 7.7% five-year decline.
Michael Kill, CEO of the NTIA, said:
- Over 90% have already cut or plan to cut staff, hours or essential investments.
- 40% expect to close within six months post-April without urgent financial support.
- 71% cite poor transport as a barrier to attending late-night events.
- 55% report safety concerns, including drink spiking, deterring them from going out.
- Nearly 60% say there’s less pressure to drink alcohol - reflecting changing social habits and increased competition for consumer leisure time.
The NTIA urges policymakers to recognise the night time economy as a critical pillar of the UK’s social, cultural, and economic fabric - and to work collaboratively with the industry to ensure its future.
The NTIA are clear that this is not a time for complacency, and its resilience has a breaking point fast approaching, underpinned by irrefutable evidence. As such the NTIA calls clearly for the Government to act or face UK nightlife’s irreversible slide into extinction.
- VAT reduction for hospitality and events.
- Relief on business rates, National Insurance and energy costs.
- Investment in late-night transport and public safety.
- Formal recognition of the night time economy as a vital economic and cultural sector in national policy.
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THE HEADLINES
In the post-music streaming era, do artists and labels give too much away? (see Comment)
Songwriters ‘missing millions in royalties from more than 100,000 UK gigs’ (see News)
Merck Mercuriadis plots comeback with Hipgnosis remix (see Business)
V&A East Storehouse to open the David Bowie Centre (see News)
ESCA calls on the EU to block Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown (see News)
Virgin Music CEOs push back against critics of Downtown Music deal (see News)
Record labels are running on empty (see Opinion)
AI music is going viral, but it’s not what fans want (see Comment)
The Velvet Sundown may be the first breakout AI band from Suno (see Digital)
Amid cuts, WMG to "continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development" (see Business)
WIN CEO writes to European Commission Vice-President over Universal's acquisition of Downtown (see Comment)
If Spotify truly champions discovery, it should champion fair compensation from the first stream (see Comment)
Selected Glastonbury coverage (see News, Features, Showbiz, Reviews)
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)
Retiring Arista CEO David Massey shares his top 10 career highlights (see Features)
Budweiser’s royalty loophole ad: How AI and social have changed the value of creators (see Comment)
When did making music get so lonely? (see Comment)