Keep Bristol Loud

In the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK’s nightlife and events industries have faced a turbulent and uneven road to recovery. The sector was among the hardest hit by lockdown restrictions, and many venues and events never fully bounced back. According to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the UK has lost over 35% of its nightclubs since March 2020. Meanwhile, data from the Music Venue Trust reveals that more than 120 grassroots music venues closed in 2023 alone, many citing unsustainable rent increases, energy bills, and reduced footfall as key reasons for closure.

These challenges are especially pronounced in Bristol — a city long celebrated for its rich history of underground music, DIY events, and independent nightlife. Over the past few years, iconic spaces like Blue Mountain and Surrey Vaults have shut their doors permanently, with Motion on its way out in the summer of 2025. Promoters are increasingly stretched, with rising venue hire costs, licensing barriers, and competition from larger commercial events leaving little room for experimentation or community-focused nights. Simultaneously, the cost of living crisis means fewer people are going out — and when they do, they’re spending less.

Beyond the financial pressures, Bristol’s nightlife ecosystem is also being eroded by cultural and structural forces: gentrification is changing the face of central areas; noise complaints are resulting in stricter licensing laws; and funding for creative projects has diminished. For a city built on its rebellious, genre-pushing spirit, the impact is significant.

This website aims to unpack these issues through a journalistic lens — combining data, personal insight, and community voices. It will feature interviews with key figures in Bristol’s nightlife industry, including promoters, venue owners, DJs, and event organisers, offering on-the-ground perspectives that statistics alone can’t fully convey. Alongside this, other pages will present deep-dive research into national trends, explore organisations like Save Our Scene UK and the Music Venue Trust, and highlight the people working to protect the future of the UK’s cultural night-time economy.