Night Time Economy Market Monitor – May 2026

Britain’s late-night economy continues to shrink in the face of rising costs and changing consumer habits, according to the latest Night Time Economy Market Monitor.  

The Monitor—produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, and the Night Time Industries Association—shows the number of bars, clubs, casinos and similar late-night venues have fallen by 1.0% in the first quarter of 2026, and by 5.1% in the last 12 months. This sector has now contracted by 28.9% in the six years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020—equivalent to nearly three net closures every week for six years. 

The late-night sector has been disproportionately affected by post-COVID challenges. Britain’s total number of licensed premises has dropped by 14.3% in six years, which means late-night venues have closed at more than twice the rate of hospitality as a whole. 

Download the latest report for more information.