29 Nov 2024
A new partnership spearheaded by industry leaders is helping shape the revitalisation of Glasgow’s night-time economy.
With two new reports setting out the challenges facing the sector, the expert group will put forward a series of recommendations to attract more evening visitors to Glasgow city centre. It will also propose how the city can adapt to the major changes affecting the evening economy across the UK.
Led by Mike Grieve, managing director of the iconic Sub Club and one of the UK’s most respected figures in night-time industries, the group is part of Glasgow’s City Centre Taskforce, which brings together the public and private sectors to guide the transformation of the city’s downtown.
The group will help shape the city’s response to recent reports by Glasgow Caledonian University’s Moffat Centre and Edinburgh-based market and social research specialists, the Progressive Partnership.
Commissioned by the Taskforce, the studies lay bare the post-Covid challenges facing the sector, such as decline in city centre footfall, the growth in socialising at home, the impacts of people having less disposable income and a perception of high prices.
In addition, the reports highlight issues around a lack of late-night transport options including availability of taxi cabs as deterrents to coming into town, as well as the look and feel of parts of the city centre.
They also cite the competition from the rise in popularity of areas such as the South Side and Dennistoun and the improved offer from city suburbs and neighbouring towns, alongside the enduring appeal of the West End.
And they point to demographic changes amongst city centre visitors, with restaurants and bars often catering for a slightly older clientele being more buoyant parts of the sector, while there is an increase in popularity of ‘activity-based’ nights out, such as comedy clubs and live music.
The Night-Time Economy Group will bring forward a series of recommendations in early 2025, which are expected to include consideration of a new ‘night-time manager’ to promote the sector and needs of revellers, marketing campaigns promoting the city centre to a range of audiences and lobbying for additional and later transport availability.
Mike said: “I’m really positive about Glasgow’s night-time sector because people will always want nightlife. But it’s undoubtedly going through intense change and the future for some parts is uncertain.
“The City Centre Taskforce and the Group I’m leading shows the commitment from people across all sectors to guiding Glasgow through that change and responding to the challenges.
“There are things beyond our control, like the cost-of-living impacts. Similarly, there’s things which businesses, service providers and policy makers can do to get more people back into town, like better and more coordinated marketing or later transport provision.
“These studies give us a better understanding of the changes evident in Glasgow’s night-time economy and how the city as a whole responds.”
Cllr Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery and Co-Chair of the City Centre Task Force, said: “Glasgow’s night-time economy remains a major contributor to the city’s prosperity. It’s also hugely significant for the city’s reputation and appeal, its culture and its very sense of itself.
“But while some areas outwith the city centre are now thriving with their own distinct nightlife offer, our historic core is experiencing change and challenges. That’s why the City Centre Taskforce is moving into a longer-term, more strategic phase and the night-time economy is a priority focus area. We’re delighted to have Mike and his group lead that.
“It’s crucial that we have an accurate picture of what’s happening in the city centre of 2024, a massively different city centre to even just five years ago.
“These reports give us a better understanding of the challenges which are within our gift and those structural shifts we all need to adapt to.”
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “A collective understanding of both the challenges and opportunities is essential to transforming the future of our nighttime economy. This sector is influenced by a broad array of factors, making detailed research crucial for guiding effective policymaking and ensuring the industry’s resilience and adaptability.
"This partnership is especially promising, as it's driven by leaders within the industry, helping us to reimagine and reshape a vital component of Glasgow’s economy.
"We all want to see a vibrant and successful city centre and this group will support the city's economic growth ambitions."
