Half of all UK nightclubs have closed in the last ten years

Almost half of the UK’s nightclubs have been closed down in the last 10 years.

Researchers say that noise complaints, later pub opening hours and rising tuition fees have been causing clubs to shut.

The research found 1,411 clubs have shut down since 2005.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers said while there were 3,144 licensed nightclubs in the UK in 2005, there are now only 1,733.

The body suggests an increase in both the rejection of club plans and the shutting down of clubs due to complaints may be linked to the drastic change.

Leeds night Tequila was embroiled in a rape scandal last year which saw the closure of its host club Mezz, whilst fellow club Bed was shut down for selling illegal vodka.

Exeter’s Arena will close its doors later this month, while York’s famous Willow Disco has also been forced to shut.

Ministry of Sound boss Lohan Presencer told the BBC: “I don’t think the number of people going clubbing at the weekend is any different to where it was 20 years ago, but I do think they are going to different places.

“With the advent of later pub opening hours, the smoking ban, student tuition fees and the squeeze that a lot people are under financially since the recession, I think people are finding different ways and different places to go out.”

The ALMR has warned of the danger of this decline in British clubbing, due to the large number of young people employed by the sector – over 80% of the 37,000 new nightclub jobs created last year went to 18-24 year olds.

The ALMR’s Chief Executive Kate Nicholls blamed noise complaints, saying: “People want to have their cake and eat it.

“If you want vibe and to live in a cool area, then you need the other, edgier side of it.”