Ahead of next week’s national and local elections in England, the ALMR has launched its 2015 Late Night Manifesto promoting the UK’s late night entertainment scene and outlining the Association’s campaigning work. This manifesto outlines the key priorities for policy makers to cement, secure and enhance our world class reputation for growth, investment and jobs.
Partner the late night sector
The ALMR is calling on an incoming Government and local authorities across the country to engage in partnership with the late night sector, recognise industry participation in high street regeneration, and amend guidance to enable continued success in the late night economy.
Generating £66 billion revenue
ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The UK’s late night economy is one of the most exciting, innovative and valuable in the world. The sector is a hotbed of creativity, nurturing some of the country’s best young entrepreneurial and musical talent, reenergising town centres and contributing enormously to local economies. Around £66 billion in revenue is generated every year by the late night economy, employing 1.3 million people and accounting for 10% of GDP.
“Over half a billion visits are made to UK nightclubs each year, including over 300 million dedicated visits and nearly £18 billion spend. We should rightly be very proud of this enormous success and there is an opportunity to improve on this and ensure that the sector cements its reputation as one of the best in the world, while delivering continued growth and additional jobs.
Calling on national and local authorities
“The ALMR is therefore launching its Late Night Manifesto and calling on both national and local authorities to work with both the ALMR and the wider late night sector to foster further improvement and encourage positive perceptions of the industry.”
The ALMR’s Late Night Manifesto (attached here) outlines specific policy initiatives to foster partnership, reduce over regulation and sustain investment in diversity and vibrancy and calls for:
- A new definition of alcohol-related crime
- Amendment of national guidance to require local authorities to work through partnership and voluntary schemes before introducing punitive measures such as EMROs and late night levies.
- Reform of permitted development rights to promote investment and ensure nightclubs can operate with a degree of security.
It’s time to stop clubbing the nightclubs – a blog by ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls.
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