Scotland needs a 'nightlife minister' as industry faces critical challenges

Calls for the Scottish Government to appoint a “nightlife minister” have been made as the industry continues to face critical challenges.

The Night Time Industries Association believes Scotland is “lagging behind” in supporting the hospitality industry with rising costs, restrictive policies, and insufficient government support, putting pressure on businesses.

The organisation is calling for a nighttime economy strategy and for it to fall within the role of a specific minister

Mike Grieve, who owns the Sub Club in Glasgow and chairs the NTIA, said the Covid pandemic has been a “significant” factor in the challenges facing nightlife across the city.

“Younger people who aren’t used to being out in nightlife, and older people who got used to staying in and watching TV,” he told STV News.

However, he added, there is an “appetite” for young people to go out and believes there always will be.

“It’s part of the human psyche, you want to go out and socialise and party, that’s part of the make-up of the human race. I just think some of the behaviour patterns have changed.

“It’s a very significant contributor; hospitality businesses are the biggest employers for under-30s in the UK. So that gives you just a flavour for how valuable it is.

“The increases in wage cost, the national insurance hike and the lack of rates relief we’re getting in Scotland are very significant for operators.

“With inflation, the cost base has grown significantly, and it’s not a cost that we’re able to pass on to our customers,” he added.

The club owner added that transport out of Glasgow has affected the industry because people are unable to get home.

“It’s become a problem across the whole of Scotland, not just Glasgow. But we lack a solid transport infrastructure going out of the city after midnight. It’s easy to get in, but getting home is a concern for people.

“Really, what we are calling for is a nighttime economy strategy and for it to fall within the role of a specific minister.

“At the moment, it’s spread between a few, so there’s no direct responsibility in Scotland.

“Scotland needs a strategy so it can be adopted throughout local authorities, and then they can have their own strategy, and there’s cohesion to the way it’s approached.”

The strategy would include solving issues such as planning and licensing, as well as issues around training and best practices.

The group believes that Scotland is “lagging very far behind” in terms of infrastructure for the night-time economy.

“Most places in Europe have an active nighttime economy strategy that works within the national governments; we don’t need to look far for it. Ireland has eight local city nighttime economy managers,” he said.

“The UK has led the way in recent times with music and trends, and people take it for granted.”

The Scottish Government said that it provided 40% business rates relief to hospitality premises – a relief that the NTIA says is not extended to small businesses.

Business minister Richard Lochhead said it welcomes any “realistic contributions” to grow and improve Scotland’s economy and continues to call on the UK Government to reverse its decision to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, which is having a detrimental impact on the night-time industry

“We are providing 40% rate relief in 2025-26 for hospitality premises, including music venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, which is benefiting night-time businesses,” he said.

“Scotland also continues to offer the most generous small business rates relief in the UK, with around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors being eligible for 100% Small Business Bonus Scheme relief.”