NTIA calls for Night Time Advisors to be appointed in every major city

A trade body representing late-night venues is calling for Night Time Advisors to be appointed in every major city to help the sector recover from the pandemic.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said having representatives championing the industry to local authorities was the “only way” for it to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

The UK’s night time economy was worth £112.8b in 2019, according to NTIA research, but the forced closure of venues during the pandemic has seen the sector lose almost a third of its nightclubs and around 90,000 jobs.

To date, only Bristol and Manchester have Night Time Economy Advisors. Sacha Lord was appointed in Manchester in 2018 while Carly Heath took up the role in Bristol this April. The position also exists in London in the form of Night Czar, and is held by Amy Lamé.

Lord has been an outspoken voice for the industry during the pandemic while Heath recently pushed a campaign to tackle drink spiking in Bristol.

The NTIA has a target list of 11 cities it believes need further representation, including Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: “It would be a tragedy for this country if the nightlife sector didn’t meaningfully rebound from the pandemic.

“That is why today we are launching a push to establish Night Time Economy advisors in cities all over the UK, to steward the sector’s restoration and ensure it isn’t left to wither. We feel this is the only way the sector can recover its pre-pandemic vibrance.

“The examples in Bristol and Manchester show just what an incredible job can be done with this position, championing the sector and the region, both in local decision making and also nationally and internationally. They can also pick up specific issues and run with them to produce positive change, as we have seen with some progressive initiatives on drink spiking.

“We would call on all relevant local and combined authorities to engage with us on this to benefit the many millions who want to see thriving night time economies all over the UK.”

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