City centre footfall is up and the night time economy is thriving – at least that’s what the data says.
But speak to those who pour their heart and soul into keeping the city’s nightlife going and they’re worried. Liverpool is a city known for its nightlife, a reputation which goes hand in hand with its storied musical heritage.
Whether it be the history behind the Cavern Club and its Beatles fame, or the foggy memories thousands will associate with the likes of Garlands, the State and Paradox in the 1990s, Liverpool’s clubland has long been the beating heart of the city. Whether it’s Scousers heading out to put the working week behind them, students pushing their loans to the limit or stag and hen parties flooding into the city, Liverpool has never been short of people filling its bars and clubs.
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However, with the cost of living crisis resulting in punters tightening their purses and hospitality venues struggling to keep the lights on, the atmosphere in the city centre feels considerably different.
Oliver Clarke, who looks after business operations at Baa Bar, told the ECHO he has noticed significant changes to the city centre’s night time economy since the pandemic. The 27-year-old, whose mum Elaine was one of the original owners of the Fleet Street hotspot, told the ECHO: “Nightlife is definitely different.
“Rave culture has come back after not being a thing for a long time. We’re seeing that people still want to go out but they are not going out every weekend, they are instead saving up their money and going to big, ticketed events.
“They’re happy to spend money on tickets that could cost £50 to £100 each, but they can save up their money over the month.
“We’ve now started charging for entry and have taken on the model of booking big DJs. It’s a bigger cost but people want value for money from their night out. Venues that aren’t are having to close their doors.”
Baa Bar is regarded as a “rite of passage” establishment for many in the city. Once described as a “Liverpool’s first proper bar”, it opened its doors in 1991 and was the first in the city to be granted a licence to serve alcohol until 2am.
The two-floor venue was first created inside a converted warehouse surrounded by nightclubs. But the pristine neon bar, light walls and sophisticated setting offered a different aesthetic to its dingy surroundings that were notably run down in the early 1990s.
Oliver previously told the ECHO how the venue has “always adapted and gone with the times, but never gone away from our roots which is giving people a good time with good, affordable drinks”.
But despite seeing more people through the doors, particularly on weekends, Oliver added that customers’ average spend had dropped off. “We’re lucky that we are established,” he said.
“There is a real unpredictability to how we will do night by night. One day we’ll have a quiet night and will have to send staff home, but on others we’ll be surprisingly busy and understaffed so will lose money.”
'Never seen town as bad as it is now'
Like almost everyone the ECHO spoke to for this piece, Oliver said any ongoing issues with nightlife can be put down to the cost of living crisis. While Baa Bar continues to get strong footfall on the weekends, weekday events, aimed more at a student crowd, have seen a significant drop-off.
Oliver added: “I always thought students were recession proof but we’re feeling the pinch. In the past students might have got a bit of money from their parents that they could use for a night out, but the cost of rent and food is so much higher now. We’re actually seeing some of the biggest queues in the city centre outside places like Wetherspoons.”
Dominic Lipscombe has also noticed that fewer students are out, one factor behind his view that the situation in the city centre has “never been as bad as it is now”. The 29-year-old, who promotes a trance dance music brand called STATELESS, told the ECHO: “To be honest, town isn't what it used to be at all.
“It used to be thriving, but that was when people had more money to spend. Now, you can definitely tell that the cost of living crisis has kicked in, which is sad.”
He added: “Even the students are feeling the pinch. A lot of student nights are not doing so well because students are facing it (the cost of living crisis) worse than most of us. Students don't have much money, so they're trying to find every way to save it."
Speaking on the industry as a whole, Dominic said: "I've been doing this (promoting) off and on since 2015 and it's never been as bad as it is now. After covid, there was a huge bounce where there was a load of pent-up excitement, people wanted to get out and be active and enjoy themselves.
“Everyone did but that predictably died down. At the worst possible time at the end of that bounce was the cost of living crisis and that properly kicked in.
“That resulted in people going out less. Even opening times are affected now – a lot of people will get their ale in first with their mates and then go to an event, which can also have an impact on bar takings.
“For small independent venues, the early spending can be make or break for them. As the night goes on people spend less money. I think the offering and the cost of living crisis are the main things. The cost of taxis – and sometimes drivers even naming their own price – is a major issue for people.”
'The sector needs support'
The effect of the price of taxi journeys in and out of the city centre can be seen in the suburbs, where drinking and nightlife spots appear to be busy. In the south of the city, Lark Lane, Smithdown Road and Woolton Village’s respective pub and bar offering attracts many people who want an evening out but may not want to venture into the city centre.
Oliver also points to this. He said: “Travel costs are another thing. Prices are going up – at one stage taxis were picking and choosing their journeys. Going into the city centre from the outskirts is not as simple as nipping out for a few pints. You have to factor in the costs.
“A friend told me the clubs and pubs were busier in St Helens – people are not travelling into Liverpool and are instead choosing to spend their money closer to home.”
Despite this, data from Liverpool BID Company shows that nightlife footfall in the city centre is up from 2019 – the last full year before lockdown. This year, footfall between 5pm and 5am has increased by 23.73% when compared with 2019.
However, there has been a slight (0.95%) drop in footfall during those hours when compared with 2022. About the figures, Bill Addy, CEO, Liverpool BID Company, said: “We’re still seeing a strong increase in footfall around night time economy compared with pre pandemic figures from 2019, we are over 20% higher, although we have seen a small drop compared with last year, averaging out at around 1% across the city centre.
“We know our theatres and cultural venues are beginning to recover but it appears that the cost of living crisis is changing people’s night time plans and so the sector needs support which is why it is so heartening to see the night buses set to return. Liverpool BID Company will continue to support our hospitality sector to help ensure we’re showcasing the world-leading offer Liverpool's night time economy has."
Owners of Liverpool city centre pubs have also told the ECHO about difficulties facing their venues, citing similar concerns to those faced by nightclubs. Higher operating costs mean that profits have been squeezed, even if footfall is maintaining a decent level.
For example, venues on and around Hope Street may appear to be thriving, with people still flocking to the area's array of pubs, such as The Grapes and The Belvedere. The Georgian Quarter – and Merseyside’s many other clusters of pubs – offer a very different night out to clubbing, with less reason to get dressed up or plan in advance.
In a post-lockdown world, this appears to have become more popular.
Another advantage held by pubs is the possibility of getting home on public transport at closing time. Merseyrail, Northern Rail and the city region’s bus services all shut down around midnight – often fine if you’ve just left after last orders, but not any use if you’re out in clubs until the early hours.
However, that is set to change. On Tuesday, news broke that a night bus will return to Merseyside, running from the city centre to Birkenhead and South Liverpool. That development has been welcomed by venue owners and people wanting a cheaper way to get home after midnight. Amid spiralling taxi costs, a cheaper way to get around at night can only be a good thing for the hospitality industry and those who use it.
'People want value for money'
In recent months, renowned DJ Lee Butler has found success with the resurrection of the iconic 051 nightclub. Lee, 51, previously told the ECHO how it was one of the hardest possible times to bring the club back due to the hangover from the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis.
But he added “the response to the club has been amazing” and cited how old and new attendees alike wanted to experience the club that provided a slice of history and heritage. Joyce Cowles, co-owner at music marketer Late Night Agency, has a similar view. For him, big events will continue to find success if attendees get “value for their money”.
The 34-year-old told the ECHO: “If you look at Circus at Blackstone Warehouse or Cream Classical, it is always sold out. People still want to go out. I think if people had more money in their pockets post-covid nightlife would be very different.
“It’s the cost of living that is impacting people – going out is the first cost that will be cut from people’s budgets if they are struggling. People want value – they want to know if the act is big enough, if the venue is cool enough, if the tickets and drinks are a good price.”
Like Oliver, Joyce has noticed that more people are saving up for big events each month instead of regularly going into the city centre. Joyce told the ECHO her agency works with some of the biggest names in the industry such as house duo CamelPhat, but also a number of smaller venues in the city centre.
And she added it is these smaller venues that are impacted most by people saving up for one big night out. “Does Liverpool have a travel-worthy events calendar that can compete with Manchester?,” she said. “I think it does, but there’s potential for more.
“Liverpool is a city of music but it can be bigger and better. Liverpool needs to utilise all the good that came from Eurovision and build a robust events calendar for the city’s smaller venues to get behind.
“Venues are having to shut down at a crazy rate because they’re struggling to keep the lights on, let alone pay staff and deliver on acts and drinks packages. I hope a Labour government will hopefully lower bills for all – if people have more disposable income in their pockets you hope it will go back into the night time economy.
“Liverpool has an amazing sense of community. To build an events calendar it’s important it is community focussed. Music is what brings people together. We know how important a local scene is – and when you nurture it, good things happen.”
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