Scotland's night-time economy must be safeguarded for future

The Herald Scotland

4 days ago

A detailed plan for action, dubbed the Northern Lights Manifesto, has been tabled by The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) Scotland, setting out no fewer than 31 'ambitious, urgent and actionable recommendations to safeguard and transform the country's night-time economy'.
The many and varied proposals include the appointment of a dedicated minister for the night-time economy in the Scottish Government – mirroring appointments made by governments in other countries – and statutory duties for local authorities to create and implement their own night-time economy strategies.
Proposals for financial relief and regulatory reform are at the heart of the blueprint, with the NTIA calling for immediate reductions in value-added tax (a power that rests in the hands of the UK Government) and business rates for night-time venues. The document also calls for a rethink of the 'licensing burdens' on both hospitality and accommodation providers.
'Scotland's night-time economy is not just about bars and clubs,' declared Mike Grieve, owner of the renowned Sub Club in Glasgow and Scotland chair of the NTIA.
'It is about the creative soul of our towns and cities. Without immediate and strategic government support, we risk losing the venues, voices and businesses that define Scotland's global identity. Northern Lights is a blueprint for meaningful action – and the time to act is now.'
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The language chosen by Mr Grieve, a respected figure on the Glasgow business scene, is emotive, and it is no surprise. The sector which Mr Grieve and his colleagues have campaigned for throughout their careers has had an arduous time since the coronavirus pandemic emerged in early 2020. Ultimately, businesses such as nightclubs and live music venues were among the last to fully reopen following long spells of Covid restrictions, but the sector's problems did not end there.
A surge in energy costs that accelerated in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an inflation crisis which has put pressure on discretionary income, and a change in consumer behaviour post-pandemic - with many people changing their socialising habits because of inadequate transport provision late at night - have left many businesses in crisis mode. Indeed, it is probably no exaggeration to say that the night-time economy in Scotland is at a real fork in the road. It seems there is a genuine risk that the sector we knew before the pandemic might never return.
Of course, the businesses that make up the night-time economy are not alone in struggling at this moment in time. The broader economy is stuck in the doldrums and growth has so far been elusive for a UK Government which has made that its number one mission.
We are probably beyond the point where any sector can expect to receive direct financial support from either the UK or Scottish governments, which was given to help keep businesses afloat during the pandemic.
But there is plenty in the NTIA blueprint, which was authored by respected Scottish licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan, that ministers should at least give serious thought to implementing.
There will be people who ask what is the fuss all about. Those of a certain vintage who no longer have close ties to the late-night economy, which can occur as people get older, might simply shrug their shoulders at its predicament. As such, it is important that organisations such as the NTIA exist to highlight its significance, both culturally and economically to Scotland, as it has emphatically done with this document.
The organisation notes that the night-time economy, which spans hospitality, live music, clubs, cultural venues, bars and late-night transport, supports more than 137,000 jobs in Scotland, and generates £43.5 billion in economic value to the UK.
Aside from this significant, tangible contribution, the night-time economy brings many intangible benefits to Scottish society too.
Gone may be the days when people of my generation attended nightclubs on a regular basis, but that does not mean we are unaware of the importance of the late-night economy. The ability of Scotland's major towns and cities to provide a vibrant night-time scene is surely key to convincing young people to live and work in these locations, and is undoubtedly an asset when major employers in places such as Glasgow and Edinburgh are looking to attract talent which might otherwise head for Manchester or London.
A thriving night-time economy is massively important to the cultural life of Scotland too, enriching the lives of people who reside here and helping with the wider effort to promote the country as a tourist destination. Just look at the fervour which has met the Oasis reunion concerts this summer as people have gathered in their hundreds of thousands to celebrate a band which, lest we forget, partly built its legend with a short gig in Glasgow live music venue King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.
My time as a frequenter of late-night bars and nightclubs are probably gone for good, but I remember fondly the many nights in my student days and in my twenties when friendships were forged and achievements were celebrated. These are memories that last a lifetime, and they were all created amid the excitement that the late-night economy has to offer. It would be a crying shame if current and future generations are denied this opportunity, even though it should be acknowledged that times change and young people today perhaps do not embrace nightlife to the extent which my generation did.
Ministers in the Scottish and UK governments should, at the very least, commit to meeting the NTIA, and allow the organisation to present its blueprint. Even if ministers will find it impossible to adopt every recommendation, there is plenty in the document that, if enacted, would make a significant difference to an industry of major importance to the Scottish economy.