Why are London clubs essential to the city? We asked the experts

Why are London clubs essential to the city? We asked the experts

Posted by John P. Bradford // September 10, 2016

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LONDON There’s no doubt that London is one of the most culturally diverse and vibrant cities in the world.

From its acclaimed dining scene to its rich historical legacy, from its trailblazing fashion industry to its prolific contributions to art and pop culture, London has always been an innovative and influential city on the global playing field.

But over the past 15 years, there’s one arena in which London’s prestige has slipped into decline: its nightlife.

The recent launch of the Night Tube and London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s unconventional job advert seeking a ‘night czar’ reflect initiatives geared towards revitalising the city’s nighttime economy.

However, despite these efforts and for a host of contested reasons, the London nightclub has become an increasingly rare institution a cultural artifact that bears witness to a party destination that once rivaled the likes of Berlin, Belgrade, Beirut and beyond.

A continuous stream of the city’s venues have been permanently closed, some of which are listed below in a Facebook post by the English electronic music group the Dub Pistols.

Most recently, the iconic nightclub Fabric has come under fire for the drug-related deaths of two teenagers in early August. In response, the Met and Islington Council compelled the club to close indefinitely, pending a September hearing to decide its future.

Amidst these swirling conditions, Mashable reached out to some ambassadors of the night to gain their perspective on why London’s nightlife has fallen on hard times and why it’s an essential feature of the city that deserves to be preserved.

Amanda Moss Co-founder of Corsica Studios

Image: Amanda moss

“I am lucky to live in what I believe is one of the best cities in the world and our night-time industries are a crucial driver, not only in what makes this city great but also contributing a value of 66bn a year to the UK economy.The development of the city and finding affordable rents has always played a part in how Corsica Studios has evolved over the years and in fact it is because of the regeneration in Kings Cross that we had to re-locate to The Elephant and Castle.

“If we are not careful people will have no where to actually go.”

“Recently however there has been such an escalation in property development, especially with more residential developments popping up all over the city, that the impact on these upon existing communities including nightclubs have been taking its toll. A combination of expansion of the city, higher rents, economic cuts impacting on policing and planning policy that fails to protect existing music venues is squeezing everybody to breaking point. We now have a great transport infrastructure with our newly opened 24 hour tube lines, but if we are not careful people will have no where to actually go.”

Simon Denby Curator and Director at Percolate

Image: simon denby

“London’s thriving nightlife has had a long and illustrious history as the vanguard of the clubbing scene worldwide. Establishments of the night-time industry have been hungrily importing cultures from around the world into our streets, creating an understanding of the ‘other’ that may not seem as obvious in the post-Brexit era but has shaped us by osmosis into part of what makes London so special – a truly international city. Those same establishments have also exported our unique sound and put a stamp on cultures around the world. People flock from the farthest corners of the UK and around the world to experience the scene that has been flourishing and many settle here to continue their love affair with our city at night.

“Many settle here to continue their love affair with our city at night.”

Nightlife is under threat down to a hostile licensing climate, partly due to perceptions largely by an older generation on the nightlife as not being something that is culturally valuable. This generation also has been more politically active compared to an often apathetic youth – and we are thus less valuable in political currency as voters. It is also partly down to the cuts that have put our police and services under pressure and thus have less finances to police and control safely the venues and streets around them. It has meant that increasing numbers of venues are either forced to shut down outright or squeezed out with highly unfavourable conditions forced upon them. Areas such as Shoreditch, Dalston and Hackney Wick now have property prices spiralling out of control, in no small part down to the high demand on the area put down by the nightlife.”

Josey Rebelle DJ

Image: josey rebelle

“I was born in London and have been completely immersed in club culture for most of my life so its difficult to put the importance of the citys nightlife into words. What I do know is that our nightclubs and music venues, so many of which have closed in the last couple of years alone, have been responsible for creating and incubating some of the worlds most incredible musical genres, communities and subcultures, which have in turn shaped popular culture in the UK and globally.

“Nightclubs are just as important as any other cultural activity.”

Seeing big businesses selling the concept of Londons amazing culture to the world one minute and then attempting to tear it apart the next really upsets me. Nightclubs and music venues are just as important for our city and the world as any other cultural activity but despite their importance, even in economic terms, they just dont seem as valued.”

Andy Peyton Head of Music at The Columbo Group

Image: Andy Peyton

“All those looking to drive out Londons nightlife need only take a look at areas like Shoreditch, Hackney Wick and Peckham for proof of its utterly positive impact. Not only is nightlife responsible for a great deal of employment in London, its reputation around the world also brings a vast amount of tourism to the city.

“Its reputation around the world also brings a vast amount of tourism to the city.”

“A photo in front of Buckingham palace and a ride on the number 24 bus might be the draw for some but for others its a weekend spent in some of the worlds best clubs, and as cultural institutions these places are no less important.Sadly though, while these establishments have long been the catalyst that drives an areas regeneration, theyre also the first to feel the strain when the property prices begin to rise and residents decide they dont like the noise.”

Jacob Husley Resident DJ and promoter of WetYourSelf! at Fabric

Image: Jacob Husley

“I moved to London 16 years ago from Denmark. It was the nightlife and the diverse underground music scene that was the big attraction for me when I moved here. It is the breeding ground for new talent coming out of the UK electronic music scene. It enabled me to grow as an artist and promoter initially doing events in small basements and warehouses in East London, to securing a permanent residency in Fabric, and with that creating an international career.

“It is the breeding ground for new talent coming out of the UK electronic music scene.”

“The nightlife is important to many aspects of society. It is the soul of the city; it is where people from all levels of society, religion, race and sexual orientation canmeet on common ground and express themselves freely. Without it, London will lose its identity. In recent years it has been under threat because of property development and tighter licensing laws, resulting in more and more venues closing down.”

Read more: http://mashable.com/2016/09/06/talking-about-london-nightlife/