In full: Angela Rayner attends nighttime economy summit

Key Concepts

• Nighttime Economy: The economic and cultural activity occurring between 6pm and 6am, encompassing hospitality, entertainment, and related sectors.
• Grassroots Venues: Small, independent venues crucial for fostering emerging talent and cultural movements.
• Agent of Change Principle: A planning policy where developers are responsible for mitigating the impact of their developments on existing venues.
• Licensing Reform: Changes to regulations governing the operation of venues, aiming for a more enabling and less restrictive approach.
• Intersectionality of Challenges: The interconnectedness of economic pressures (business rates, VAT, energy costs, wages) impacting the nighttime economy.
• Cultural Heritage (Intangible): Recognizing the cultural value of spaces and movements beyond physical buildings.
• 24-Hour Economy: Integrating nighttime activities with broader economic and social planning, including transport and safety.

The Importance of the Nighttime Economy & Policy Challenges

The speech, delivered by Angelina, centers on the vital role of the nighttime economy in the UK, extending beyond mere economic contribution to encompass cultural identity, community building, and personal opportunity. She emphasizes that the sector is not an abstract concept but a lived experience, particularly for those from working-class backgrounds who often find their first opportunities within it. She recounts her own experiences working in hospitality – a kebab shop, a pub (the Malt Shovels in Cheddle, now closed) – alongside care work, highlighting how these roles fostered confidence, community, and essential life skills. She stresses that nightlife, at its best, is “joyful, creative, social, [and] human” and fundamentally matters.

Economic Impact & Current Hardships

Angelina details the significant economic contribution of the nighttime economy, supporting millions of jobs, driving tourism, and sustaining extensive supply chains. However, she acknowledges the severe hardships the sector has faced, even before the pandemic. She cites a 30% shrinkage of the nighttime economy since before the pandemic. Specific data points include a 30% decline in the number of nightclubs since 2019 and the loss of over 75,000 jobs between 2024 and 2025. The current situation is described as a “perfect storm” of rising costs – energy bills, inflation, business rates, and debt – disproportionately affecting the 70% of the sector comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), independent venues, and family-run businesses. She contrasts the UK’s approach with other European governments who have provided extended support as investment, not just handouts.

Policy Disconnect & The Need for Engagement

A central argument is the disconnect between policy-making and the realities of the nighttime economy. Angelina criticizes a “one-size-fits-all” approach and emphasizes that policy is too often “done to this sector, not with it.” She stresses the need for genuine engagement, co-design, and recognition of expertise within the industry. She highlights the importance of businesses feeling confident that rules won’t change arbitrarily and that longstanding structural issues will be addressed. She points to the need to understand the “intersectionality of challenges” – how business rates, VAT, energy costs, and wage increases combine to create immense pressure.

Specific Policy Recommendations

Angelina outlines several concrete policy recommendations:

• Review of Business Rates: A call for a fundamental review and reform of the business rates system to alleviate pressure on venues.
• Licensing Reform: Advocating for a more “enabling, permissive” licensing approach that trusts well-run venues and fosters partnership rather than friction. She specifically praised the Mayor of London’s announcement of a London-wide strategic licensing policy, a model she previously championed as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State.
• Planning Reform & Agent of Change: Implementing more efficient and responsive planning processes and consistently applying the “agent of change” principle, ensuring developers mitigate the impact of new developments on existing venues.
• Transport Integration: Improving public transport, particularly late-night services, to ensure affordability and accessibility for both patrons and workers. She cites the transformative impact of the night bus network in Manchester and London. She also advocates for fair shift pay, ensuring workers are compensated even during quiet periods.
• Safety Measures: Prioritizing safety, particularly for women, through robust policing, tackling predatory behavior, and improving environmental design and transport safety. She emphasizes that transport is a safety enabler – people won’t go out if they can’t get home safely.
• Recognition of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Expanding the definition of cultural heritage to include intangible assets like grassroots music scenes and temporary spaces, recognizing their long-term impact beyond physical structures. She references UNESCO’s recognition of cultural significance beyond physical buildings.
• Dedicated Ministerial Position: Establishing a dedicated minister with responsibility for the nighttime economy to champion the sector within government and ensure SME voices are heard. This was a key recommendation in the NIA manifesto, “Darkest Before the Dawn.”

Cultural Value & The Importance of Spaces

Angelina powerfully argues that cultural value extends beyond historic buildings. She emphasizes that many important cultural movements originated in “basements, warehouses, clubs, and temporary spaces.” She stresses the need to protect these spaces, recognizing them as integral to the UK’s cultural story and a launchpad for global talent. She specifically highlights the importance of supporting live music, electronic music, and DJs.

Q&A Highlights

The Q&A session further emphasized Angelina’s personal connection to the sector. She described how her early work experiences – from a kebab shop to a pub – shaped her confidence and ability to connect with people. She reiterated the need for policy to be designed with the industry, not for it, and for a more pragmatic approach to addressing the challenges faced by businesses. She also underscored the importance of joined-up thinking between government departments and local authorities, and the need to prioritize safety and affordable transport.

Conclusion

Angelina’s speech and the subsequent Q&A deliver a compelling case for recognizing and supporting the nighttime economy. She moves beyond economic arguments to emphasize the sector’s crucial role in fostering community, creativity, and cultural identity. Her call for policy reform, genuine engagement with the industry, and a more holistic approach to planning, transport, and safety provides a clear roadmap for creating an environment where the nighttime economy can thrive, benefiting both businesses and communities alike. The core takeaway is that investing in the nighttime economy is not simply an economic imperative, but a vital investment in the heart and soul of the UK.