Your say / Nighttime Economy
‘Bristol City Council is deprioritising nightlife’
We write collectively as representatives of Bristol’s night time economy, including Bristol’s venues, restaurants, promoters, festivals, freelancers, suppliers and cultural organisations who contribute to the life of this city after dark.
We are concerned and shocked by the attempt to quietly close down Bristol Nights and silently make redundant the position of Bristol’s Night Time Economy Advisor with absolutely no engagement with, or involvement in the process from, any stakeholders or business within the city that the position represents.
As a sector we helped to create and deliver the work of Bristol Nights alongside the council. We are proud to call ourselves the Bristol Nights community.
Many of us have volunteered our time and expertise freely because we believe that together, we make life in Bristol a better place after dark.
This decision affects not only businesses but the thousands of workers, creatives and community members whose livelihoods depend on Bristol’s night time economy.
Bristol’s night time economy is not a niche sector. It is a major employer, a cultural export, a tourism driver and a defining part of the city’s identity. It sustains thousands of jobs, from artists and technicians to security staff, bar workers, taxi drivers and hospitality teams.
It underpins supply chains across production, AV, catering and creative industries. It attracts students, visitors and global attention.
Bristol Nights was a strategic commitment, bringing us all together with important functions:
- abridge between operators and the council
- a vehicle for coordinated policy and safety initiatives
- a platform for inclusive nightlife, grassroots culture and independent venues
- a signal that Bristol understands the value of its night time ecosystem
Removing the role of the night time economy advisor and mothballing the initiative means fragmentation, reduced safety collaboration, loss of sector confidence, and reflects a deprioritisation of nightlife at the council.
Let us be unequivocally clear here, the night time hospitality industry is on its knees, independent venues and promoters are on their knees and we are currently looking at global affairs that as of today, March 13, we can see imminent price increases and returning rise in inflation that has already wiped out many great operators in the city and has lead to many more operating on the brink.
The timing and the secrecy of the decision to take away our only dedicated representative in the city council could not have been more poorly planned and indeed negligent towards a crucial sector of Bristol’s economy.
Independent venues, upon which Bristol’s creative cultural economy is built, face unprecedented pressure from rising costs, licensing challenges and property development, thus strategic leadership is more important than ever.
Other UK cities are strengthening their night time governance structures. Bristol should not step backwards.
The council’s Bristol Nights partnership model has already achieved so much with the Bristol Rules, Harm Reduction, Stop Spiking, Safety of Women at Night and mental health and wellbeing support for our often overlooked workforce.
As a nightlife community, alongside the stewardship and incredibly hard work of the night time economy advisor, we are in the process of establishing the groundbreaking Bristol Music Fund, which could just be the lifeline the city needs to maintain its place as a leader in music culture internationally.
At a time when Bristol is positioning itself to apply for the UK’s City of Culture, we wonder how on earth can the council look to remove the position of the night time economy advisor and Bristol Nights, which has already achieved so much support for the key cultural sector of Bristol?
We recognise the financial pressures facing the council. However, the economic contribution of Bristol’s night time sector far outweighs the cost of strategic coordination.
As a nightlife community, we value our local council’s support, and believe there is a continuing need for sector-representation in local government.
Bristol Nights has been a vehicle to solve common problems which affect our workforce and industry.
Given the night time economy’s diverse workforce and the disproportionate number of people from marginalised communities who rely on it for employment and opportunity, we believe decisions affecting the sector should be taken transparently and with proper consideration of their wider equality and community impacts.
We call on our elected councillors to reverse the council’s decision to disband Bristol Nights and the position of the night time economy advisor, and invite a renewed spirit of collaboration to help resolve this issue.
We respectfully ask Full Council to:
- reconsider the decision to mothball Bristol Nights and make redundant the position of the night time economy advisor, and find a way to continue its leadership and initiatives in the city
- commit to retaining strategic night time economy leadership within the authority or another suitable leadership organisation
- engage directly with sector representatives to explore sustainable delivery models, including partnership or co-funded approaches if required
In The City at Night, a 2024 report from Christina Gray, Bristol’s director of public health, she said: “The night time economy in Bristol generates considerable revenue for businesses and drives the prosperity of the city, with annual spending likely to be upwards of £200m.
“This is spread across a variety of different venues offering everything from rock to Shakespeare, and from Michelin star dining to street food.
“In response, Bristol has become a national – if not, global – leader in understanding the importance of the night…
“With over 40 per cent of Bristol employment being linked to the night time economy, its importance cannot be ignored.”
This is an open letter to Tony Dyer, the leader of Bristol City Council, from more than 100 representatives of Bristol’s nighttime economy sector
These are the signatories of the open letter: Lakota, Sonny Stores, Port O’Bristol, Xisto Wines, Box-E, Team Love, the Kensington Arms, Amy Chadburn, BCFM Radio, Clouds, Forwards, Undivide, Siren, the Love Inn, Salt & Malt, Love Saves The Day, Simple Things Festival, the Arc, Oowee Diner, Oowee Vegan, Rob Britton, Watershed, Ben Wright, Miranda Rae, Miles Leonard, Melanie Green, Elle Placide, Alfresco Disco, Alex Kendrick, Rebecca Morgan, Mary Mina, the Pony Chew Valley, Neil Horton Hill, Strange Brew, Out of Hand, Trinity Community Arts, Tomasin Cuthbert, Thekla, DHP Family, Teachings in Dub, Loco Klub, Ben Woodruff, Refresh West Ltd, Bristol Old Vic, Thomas Frost, Cassie Madly, The Full Moon and Attic Bar, Ruffneck Ting, Annie McGann, the Invisible Circus, Ollie Watton, SWU FM, Mike Cridland, the Pipe & Slippers, Hadie Abido, the Jam Jar, The Is Now Agency, Adam Wolff, A Williams, Sawmills, Underground, Tristan Shaw, Tropical Tea Party, Matt Wainhouse, Inaz Hussain, Laura Lewis Paul, DJ Exposure, Dave Smeaton, Euella Jackson, Joe Frankland, PRS Foundation, Voicebox Music, Pete The Temp, BillyChip, Jordan White, Panda Cooper, Angus Malcolm, Aimee Curran, Ngaio Anyia, Jamie Chicken, Root, Mark Crown, Seed Sessions, MacBain Osaurus, Basement 45, Susanna Burgess-Barr, Mattie Goddard, Bianchis Group, Krishna Quarrell, Matt Read, Billie Croucher, M32 DIY, Dominic Borel, Lizzy Ellis, Saffron Records, Bristol Students’ Union, Helen McGee, O2 Academy Bristol, Robyn Appleton and Tilly Marshall
Main photo: David Jeffery Hughes / Thekla
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