Welsh nightclubs demand date for reopening

Nightclub owners across Wales are asking for clarity about reopening, which has still not been given an official date in the country.

Industry bodies have warned that many businesses could go bankrupt, with one licensee saying that nightclub owners and operators were “desperate” and running out of money, according to the BBC.

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The Welsh government have been hesitant to place a date on the reopening of nightlife, with indoor hospitality set to reopen on May 17 - while England has set the earliest date that nightclubs can reopen as June 21.

Restrictions are set with a traffic light system in Wales, where the reopening of venues is determined by COVID-19 risk levels - cases are currently at their lowest since August 2020, with only 8.6 cases per 100,000 people across seven days.

However, the traffic light system has restricted nightclubs and night time entertainment across all risk levels, with pilot events being available at the lowest risk level.

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The Night Time Industries Association has curated an open letter asking the government for an “indicative date for when nightclubs, entertainment-led, and late-night venues will be able to open without restrictions."

It adds: “We would stress the importance for our sector knowing when they will be able to operate without or with minimal restrictions and take deliberate decisions about staffing, debt and investment now, as night time economy businesses in England are currently doing.”

The association continued on to ask for the Welsh government to provide them with financial support, saying: “Welsh government support initiatives to date have been neither sufficient nor comprehensive enough to prevent many businesses in the sector falling into significant debt.”

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A government spokesman said: “We understand the difficulties faced by all businesses, and particularly those involved in the night time economy”.

Indoor hospitality is set to reopen across the UK on May 17 with pubs being able to serve customers inside, and people able to meet six people inside a venue in England, and four in Wales.

[Via: BBC]

Tope Olufemi is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow them on Twitter