‘Elated’ Owners welcome decision to reopen venues
LATE-NIGHT venue owners in Bristol have spoken of their delight after the Government announced that nightclubs should be able to reopen later this month.
So-called ‘freedom day’ was initially due to take place on June 21, but was pushed back due to growing concerns over the Delta variant of coronavirus, first identified in India.
As well as permitting nightclubs to reopen, stage four will also see all legal limits on social contact removed, meaning an end to the indoor ‘rule of six’ and an unlimited number of people allowed to gather in indoor and outdoor settings.
In his announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was a “propitious moment” to ease coronavirus restrictions, suggesting it would be harder to end them in the autumn and winter months.
Mark Davis, owner of Basement 45 in Frogmore Street, said reopening after so long would be “like starting from scratch”.
He said: “We were elated when Boris confirmed nightclubs can reopen on July 19. It’s been around 18 months since we last had people in the venue and we can’t wait to have them back.
“It’s going to be a bit like starting from scratch as we have brought in loads of new equipment over the period of closure, including a new sound system and lighting.”
Mr Davis said he also expected to see a “new generation of clubbers” at the venue due to the fast-paced nature of the industry, with lots of people turning 18 throughout the pandemic.
Many venues in Bristol and further afield have been able to keep going through the challenging period, thanks to grants from Arts Council’s Culture Recovery Fund.
Motion, recognised as one of the
❝ We can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best: producing large, safe and inclusive parties Motion’s Martin Page
best clubs in the world, received £884,796 as part of the lifeline funding – the highest amount of any organisation in Bristol.
Venue co-director, Martin Page, said the club would not be open today were it not for this assistance.
He said: “The fact we can finally reopen to our full capacity, after hibernating for nearly 500 days, is the best news imaginable for us, and for the ecosystem of suppliers across Bristol and the UK.
“This is the most challenging period we’ve ever had to endure and without the recognition we received from the Arts Council as one of the most culturally important grassroots venues in the UK, which helped us secure our funding, I’m not sure we’d still be here.
“The past year-and-a-half has taken a toll on everyone’s physical and mental health, and I think we’ve all been dreaming of the day these restrictions are finally lifted.”
Like many late-night venues, Motion has operated a socially distanced outdoor space to keep staff on during the latest period of closure, but the reduced capacity at these events means they do not make a profit.
“We can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best: producing large, safe and inclusive parties that we’re known for across the globe,” he added.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the whole team at Motion, as well as everybody who has helped and supported us over the past 16 months.”