One nightclub closes every two days in a decline that will see NO clubs left in Britain by 2030

Nightclubs could be wiped out in Britain by 2030 unless urgent action is taken to prevent more clubs from closing, industry chiefs have warned. 

On average, one nightclub shuts its doors every two days in Britain - with 123 closures in the past nine months.

Around half of Britain's remaining venues could be lost in a year if the current trend continues, The Times reports.

Existing pressures on the hospitality industry have been compounded by the cost of living crisis, as consumers cut back spending to focus on soaring energy bills.

Small businesses themselves, many of which scraped through lockdown, are not protected by energy watchdog Ofgem's price cap and they face paying 20 per cent VAT on their gas and electricity, whereas most ordinary households pay five per cent.

Code nightclub in Sheffield is one of the latest venues into country forced to shut its doors as the cost of living crisis bites the night-time economy

The club was a legendary venue, popular with the city's young people and student population for over a decade

Illegal parties and rave culture could soon become the norm if the rate of closures continue, said Mike Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Mr Kill said: 'Our industry was set up to create safe environments, which are well regulated, well policed and with first aid to ensure people can party safely.

'There is a concern that if we have the drop off we're expecting, people will be pushed into a position like they were during the pandemic of finding other social and cultural engagements that are unregulated and unsafe. If we're not careful, we'll end up going back to the late-Eighties rave culture.'

'It is a tragedy for UK culture. Nightclubs nurture up-and- coming talent and are also cultural and social hubs of communities which are at risk of being lost for ever.'

Small firms are pleading for the Government to step in over sky-high energy bills, which have soared by as much as 400 per cent in some cases, leaving many fearing they could be put out of business by the end of the year.

More than half of small companies — 54 per cent — fear their running costs could force them to close, according to a report by SME Insights and insurer Simply Business.

In Luton, famous punk and hard rock nightclub Edge never reopened its doors after closing for the first lockdown in March 2020. More recently, plans were submitted to rebuild the site as flats

Casbah was a popular nightclub in Swindon town centre but it too has been forced to close its doors as pressures mount on the hospitality industry

Much-loved nightclub Kingsley's announced it was closing its doors in Southsea, Hampshire, after 14 years of lighting up the town, as brewery Stonegate opted not to renew its lease

In August, figures showed there were just 1,130 club venues left across England, Scotland and Wales.

This was down from 1,446 nightclubs in Britain in December 2019 and 1,924 in December 2014, according to data shared by the NTIA.

Clubs were forced to shut completely for well over a year because they could not open safely as the airborne took hold. In England, they reopened only in July last year and the following month in Scotland and Wales. Those two nations closed them again briefly in response to the wave last winter

One club closing its doors this month is Code in Sheffield, a venue popular with students. It will shut this month after eight years in which it held no fewer than 1,657 events for 1.7 million customers.

The owner said he had no choice because the business was running at a significant loss. He posted on Facebook: 'A combination of fewer students in Sheffield and a recent electricity price increase of 500 per cent means we're left with no option but to close our beloved club for ever. It's been one hell of a rollercoaster but it's time to get off.'

In Luton, legendary club Edge had been hosting punk nights for years until it became a fully fledged nightclub in 1998, hosting regular punk, rock and heavy metal bands. For more than 20 years, youngsters and students enjoyed 'making friends and dancing the night away on the club's sticky dancefloors', Luton Today reports. 

'The Edge played host to big name acts, including Mike Skinner and the Artful Dodger, but is probably better remembered among regulars for its Intergalactic Tuesdays, where £12 on the door covered drinks at the bar all night.'

Sadly, the Edge never reopened its doors after closing for the first lockdown in March 2020. This year, plans were submitted to the local authority to demolish the building to make way for housing.

Elsewhere, much-loved nightclub Kingsley's announced it was closing its doors in Southsea, Hampshire, after 14 years of lighting up the town, as brewery Stonegate opted not to renew its lease.

Owner Steve Kingsley told Portsmouth News  that he will soon relinquish the lease of the premises to the brewery.

With the brewery's plans to be confirmed, Mr Kingsley is now left looking for an alternative site for his Kingsley's brand. He said: 'The lease is up and the brewery want to take it back.

'It's worth keeping the brand - we've been very lucky and very happy. We would probably like to lease again, but where I can buy whatever booze I want. I would very much like to keep the brand going.'

 Kingsley's is due to close its doors on December 31, after two final events on December 29 and 30