Growing up in the town of Woking, 23-year-old Henry Gannon watched places for young people to socialise slowly disappear. Today, the town centre has no traditional nightclubs left. For Gannon and other under-30s, finding a late-night space to meet friends and enjoy life has become increasingly difficult.
Gannon believes the cost of living crisis is one of the main causes, explaining that high prices are pricing out young adults who have little spare money. Without local clubs, people often choose cheaper alternatives like sitting in a park, visiting a pub, or paying for an expensive taxi ride from another town. Gannon described the situation as bleak, saying he feels he is missing out on a crucial part of being young.
The issue extends far beyond Woking. According to figures released by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) in 2025, one quarter of UK towns have lost all of their nightclubs. In addition, one in six towns no longer have any late-night venues open at all.
Michael Kill, the chief executive of the NTIA, warned that Britain is facing a national cultural crisis. He noted that the damage to local nightlife is becoming irreversible, because once these late-night venues close down, they rarely return.