Eastbourne nightclub joins call to be allowed to re-open

A number of hospitality businesses were allowed to re-open in July but other late-night sector venues including nightclubs, dance halls, sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars remain shut.

Now a consortium of leading night-time industry operators, including Cameo in Langney Road, has raised an urgent plea to the government to save the late night leisure sector from collapse and allow venues to reopen with Covid-secure measures in place.

Their concerns come as the furlough scheme finishes in October and venues say they are under threat of going under with jobs lost as the sector remains the only one without a clear reopening date.

The consortium says the late-night sector has been largely forgotten by the government since venues were forced to close in March this year and the majority of late-night operators have not qualified for any grants, bounceback loans, and as yet have had no help with rents. The group says many are under immense pressure from landlords and banks and have prioritised the payment of fixed costs in the hope that further government support will be forthcoming.

Cameo’s owner Peter Marks said, “The late night leisure sector is at risk of collapse if the government does not act now - it is that simple. We need a clear reopening plan, or at the very least fit-for-purpose financial assistance.”

A report by the consortium says venues can be operated safely with a range of measures including ID scans and temperature checks on entry, contactless payment, social distancing and frequent high intensity cleaning.

Government has said it remains the intention, subject to the prevalence of the virus, to open such venues as soon as it is safe.