There’s a job going in Sadiq Khan’s office you should probably know about. Why? Because whoever ends up filling the position is going to be tasked with overseeing the future of London’s nightlife.
The Mayor’s Office are looking for a ‘Night Czar’.No, that’s not code for some sort of night time dictator who will rule over ravers with an iron fist and force them to behave. According to the job description the Night Czar ‘will champion the value of London’s night time culture whilst developing and diversifying London’s night time economy.’
The job spec states:
‘The Night Czar will have proven leadership ability, public profile and convening power, plus a thorough understanding of the night time economy and the ability to work in a political environment.’
The role is 2.5 days a week and the salary per annum is £35,000. Sounds like a dream right?
Wrong. Whoever takes the job will have their work cut out for them. They will be appointed at a time when night time culture in the capital is in troubled waters.
According to the Mayor of London himself, Sadiq Khan, a third of London’s small music venues have closed in the last few years. Speaking to The Debrief before he was elected as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan told us of his commitment to ensuring the future of London’s nightlife.
‘I will appoint a Night czar’ he said, ‘we need somebody looking after London’s nightlife. There’s a night economy here. It’s important for people to have a good time for people to have a good time for cultural reasons, but for economic reasons too. Let me give you some scary stats…since 2008 almost a third of live music venues have closed down in London…just think about that…’
In 2005 the UK had 3,144 clubs. In 2015 there were only 1,733 and counting.The number of places where you can lose, find and lose yourself again is dwindling at an alarming rate. In the last few weeks alone Fabric’s license has been suspended (albeit because of drug-related deaths), its future hanging in the balance, Dalston’s Dance Tunnel closed its doors for the last time, Haggerston’s Passing Clouds was seized my bailiffs and Hackney Wick’s Shapes has shut. These venues join a long list of spaces which once provided a place to drink and dance for people of all sexualities, genders and musical persuasions.
Light in clubs across the city are slowly but surely being snuffed out. So it’s good news that Sadiq is a politician who’s true to his word. It’s high time that London’s nightlife was pushed up the agenda, other cities, including Amsterdam, have long had night time representatives.
We've got the night tube now, soon we'll have a Night Czar but what we need to know is whether there will be anywhere left to go.
Applications for the role must be submitted by midnight on September 21st. Good luck to all those who apply – our late night, booze-filled, future escapades depend on you. No pressure whatsoever.
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The Night Tube Finally Arrives - But London's Night Life Is Dying Out
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.