A popular Coventry nightclub is bucking the national trend with its triumphant return. There was great sadness among young and old clubbers in the city when JJ's closed in June.
But the Croft Road nightspot, adored by generations of revellers, has made something of a comeback in recent weeks following its (re)Opening Party on September 15. The venue is hosting club nights every Friday, including tonight, as well as one-off events in the coming weeks.
A JJ's spokesperson said the club was reopening 'better than ever before' on selected dates for both students and the public. Two Halloween-themed nights are in the offing and a 'New Year's Eve Extravaganza' is also being organised.
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The brand's return comes at a time when nightclubs up and down the country are facing major challenges caused by the cost of living crisis and sky high energy bills. New figures show the number of UK nightclubs has almost halved in the past decade, with a 30% fall since 2020, when the pandemic hit and social distancing rules rocked the hospitality and late-night industry.
Research company CGA NIQ said its study found that 10 years ago, Britain had around 1,700 nightclubs, but in June this year the total stood at 873. Karl Chessell, of CGA NIQ, said: "Covid-19 hit nightclubs harder than any other licensed sector, and lockdowns were the final straw for hundreds of venues."
But Mr Chessell said there was hope for the industry. "Our research shows the late-night market isn’t disappearing – it’s just changing," he said. "Bars, pubs, competitive socialising venues and other new leisure concepts all now rival nightclubs, giving consumers a greater choice of venues than ever.
"Young adults remain eager for big nights out with their friends, and while clubs are still a part of their mix they are also open to alternatives that deliver memorable social experiences and good value." Graeme Smith, managing director of AlixPartners – which helped with the research - added: "This latest data highlights just how severely the night-time industry has been impacted by both the pandemic, changing consumer behaviour and increasing competition in the late night market.
"We’ve seen a recent explosion of experiential bar and restaurant concepts across the industry, and with bars and other venues also now staying open later into the early hours, consumers have a wide array of experiences and options to choose from."
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