Supplementary letter from the British
Entertainment & Discotheque Association Ltd
Sunday Dancing — The Scottish Experience
Reform of the restrictions on Sunday dancing took
place in Scotland in 1976. This reform was welcomed by the public,
local authorities and operators alike and is considered to have
been a great success. The proposals currently being considered
by the House of Commons Deregulation Committee share the key elements
that contributed to the success of reform in Scotland.
- local accountability
- venues were permitted to apply to open, they could not
automatically open under the reforms
- public order - partly
because of the local accountability, BEDA is unaware of any instances
of public order problems or increased residential disturbance
as a result of the reforms in Scotland
- public demand - opening
of venues on a Sunday has been sustained by public demand, particularly
amongst more mature customers, making it the third most popular
night of the week
- economic benefits
- according to a recent survey, Sunday trading now generates £98,000
in gross revenue per venue per annum in Scotland.
Trading
According to the Pepsi Barometer Industry Survey
1999, Sunday has clearly established itself as the third most
popular trading night of the week, contributing on average 14%
to clubs gross revenues. 120 Scottish nightclubs were questioned
as part of the survey. The clubs had an average annual turnover
of £700,000 with an average Sunday turnover of £1,884
per night. Independent research prepared for BEDA by the Economists
Advisory Group (EAG) confirms this and expects the trend would
continue into England and Wales.
"Sunday nightclubbing ... has been popular
in Scotland for 20 years, where it is the third most popular evening
of the week. Our research confirms that a similar pattern would
emerge in England and Wales."
Feedback from operators suggested that they have
found the night to be particularly popular when it precedes a
Bank Holiday Monday. EAG supports this point, noting that:
"When the Sunday night precedes a Bank Holiday
in Scotland, operators report that business is typically equivalent
to a Saturday."
Figures from the 1999 industry survey suggest typical
Saturday night revenues for a nightclub of £4,577. With between
four and six Bank Holiday weekends a year reform could provide
an additional £27,462 per venue on these nights alone. A
sizeable financial boost for the hundreds of small and medium
size enterprises that make up the majority of the late night entertainment
industry.
Scottish operators found that reform in the 1970s
opened up new market opportunities. BEDA Scotland Chairman, John
Fox notes:
"There has always been a great demand from
younger customers for club nights on a Friday and Saturday night.
The beauty of Sunday dancing is that it allows us to cater for
this demand and then serve the needs of our more mature customers
on a Sunday. As a result Sundays tend to be more relaxed, casual
nights, very popular with the late twenties and early thirties
market and female customers."
It is reasonable to believe this pattern would be
repeated in England and Wales. There is a great demand from 18
to 25 year olds for club nights on a Friday and Saturday. Operators
will always look to satisfy this demand. Deregulation of the 1780
Sunday Observance Act will give them the flexibility to offer
a different type of music on a Sunday, probably focused on the
25 to 35 year old market. This would be consistent with the more
restricted opening hours and special considerations proposed for
Sunday trading with the 12.30am terminal hour lending itself to
the older more sophisticated customer than the more energetic
younger crowd.
Social aspects of reform
BEDA is unaware of any evidence to suggest that the
decision to permit Sunday Dancing in Scotland has contributed
to increased residential disturbance or public order problems.
As with any other day, operators are aware of the need to ensure
that on a Sunday their venues are well run and consider the needs
of both customers and local residents. The more rigorous application
process that will exist in England and Wales should reform occur
will ensure that operators are mindful of the need for this approach.
Scottish operators already co-operate with licensing
boards on a range of initiatives to combat residential disturbance
and public order. This is also the case in England and Wales where
existing initiatives would be extended to cover Sundays. For example
BEDA is currently working with the British Institute of Innkeepers
and Westminster City Council on a National Entertainment Licensees'
Qualification aimed at ensuring all managers of late night venues
are able to run orderly operations, considerate to the needs of
local residents and minimising public order problems. All BEDA
members are committed to signing up for this qualification as
a statement of their commitment to social responsibility.
Increasingly nightclubs are working in partnership
with local authorities and the police to develop programmes of
activity promoting responsible behaviour and minimising disturbance
and disorder. For example, the BEDA, ACPO, LGA guidelines on the
Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Act and the Boiling
Point Preventer initiatives in Kirklees.
Conclusion
Scottish customers, of all ages, have benefited from
Sunday reform. Scottish operators, big and small, have benefited.
The socially responsible attitude of operators, combined with
the demands of the licensing process (even more rigorous in England
and Wales) has kept public order problems and residential disturbance
to a minimum.
9 February 2000
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