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Will 2025 deliver the coup de grace to the clubbing world?
There is a creeping crisis that is slowly strangling European discos
January 15th, 2025
Nightclubs have been at the heart of European culture for decades as spaces of expression, connection, and escape. From the industrial warehouses of Manchester and Berlin to the glamorous nightclubs of Milan, these venues symbolized youthful rebellion, creative experimentation, and musical innovation. Today, however, dance floors across the continent are increasingly empty, some of the most legendary clubs are closing, and an entire cultural movement faces an uncertain future. The epicenter of this crisis seems to be the United Kingdom, once a global hub of electronic music. As Euroweekly News reported last October, according to the Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA), the UK has lost 37% of its nightclubs in just four years: in 2013, there were 1,700 active clubs in the country, but by 2024 that number had fallen to less than half, with only 787 venues remaining. If current trends continue, the association said, nightclubs in the UK could disappear entirely by 2030. This decline is not due to a single cause but to a combination of economic, cultural, and regulatory pressures. Rising costs, particularly rents and operational expenses, have left many venues struggling financially. The cost-of-living crisis has worsened the issue as younger generations (the demographic most interested in clubbing) can no longer afford nights out. Students and young professionals who once regularly attended midweek events now consider clubbing a rare occasion rather than a regular habit. But the issue goes deeper than economics – it’s culture that is changing.
Statistically, Gen Z consumes much less alcohol than previous generations. Estimates from The Guardian, for example, suggest that almost a third of young people now completely abstain from drinking, a decline in consumption that has impacted the traditional economic model of nightclubs, long reliant on bar sales to supplement ticket revenue. The impact was already felt last year: the bankruptcy of the nightclub chain Rekom UK, which operated venues like Pryzm and Atik, led to the closure of seventeen clubs across the UK, including some of the largest in cities like Leeds, Plymouth, and Nottingham, leaving a void in nightlife that smaller boutique venues struggle to fill. The situation is so dire that even a Manchester mayoral advisor has called for measures such as tax reductions and extended rent relief to give struggling clubs a chance to survive.
we need to bring back clubbing culture! the gym is way too packed for a friday night
— not jenna (@jeennaa) November 9, 2024
The problem extends to the European clubbing capital, Berlin, home to venues like Berghain, Tresor, and Watergate, which have also been hit by the crisis. As reported by Financial Times, the Watergate, one of Berlin’s most famous clubs, announced its closure at the end of 2024, citing unsustainable rents and a decline in tourism. Club management lamented that «the days when Berlin was flooded with club-loving visitors are over.» Rising costs and stricter licensing regulations have also made it increasingly difficult for clubs to operate. Many now face noise complaints from residents in new housing developments, further limiting their ability to stay open. Attempting to temper the doom and gloom, Marcel Weber, president of the Berlin Club Commission, described this phenomenon more as a transformation than a decline, citing the emergence of new venues like RSO Berlin and events like Rave the Planet – a reimagining of the historic Love Parade.
Italy also provides a stark example of how demographic and cultural shifts are transforming nightlife. According to an investigation by Repubblica, widely circulated in recent months, since 1990 the country has lost more than half of its nightclubs. Over the past fourteen years, more than 2,100 venues have closed, replaced by supermarkets, banks, and other commercial spaces. The decline of Italian nightclubs is tied to the decline in the youth population. Between 1983 and 2006, Italy recorded a 46% drop in its young demographic, a demographic shift that has profoundly impacted demand for clubbing simply because there are fewer young people to fill dance floors. Culturally, young Italians are abandoning the traditional nightclub experience in favor of alternative social options: luxury restaurants that double as nighttime party spaces, like Bullona and El Porteño in Milan, are growing increasingly popular, while listening bars are spreading. These venues offer more curated experiences, catering to a wealthier clientele seeking to avoid the chaos of traditional clubs. In Italy, what we see is a fragmentation of the scene: queer-themed nights in Milan, such as those at Rocket, still draw large crowds of young people who turn them into genuine cultural scenes. The techno scene revolves around venues like Gatto Verde, Fucine Vulcano, and Buka, as well as smaller clubs like Amelia and Masada, each with its subculture.
What seems to be changing, and what seems to be in decline, is the 1980s nightclub format, which even Max Pezzali laments the loss of in his Discoteche abbandonate. Whereas in the past the same club catered to various audiences, today the generic “generalist nightclub” format and its associated experience have decidedly fallen out of favor. Beyond the type of audience attending a venue, traditional nightclubs are seen as too crowded, with long lines at the entrance, bars, and coat checks; too expensive, requiring payment at nearly every step; and uninspiring due to the generic nature of their offerings. While it may be obvious to note that younger queer audiences seek safer and more specific spaces for their community, it is notable how on social media rave culture has its own ultra-specialized representation/narrative, recently producing its own memes and even fashion brands, such as Feral Clothing and 44 Label Group. It also has its own social etiquette and even its own “uniform,” featuring shirtless looks, bikini tops paired with baggy cargo pants, pouches and fanny packs, camouflage pants, and vaguely fetishistic details. Perhaps Marcel Weber is right: clubbing isn’t dying; it’s just transforming.