East of England loses 39% of nightclubs in four years
Last updated 2nd Aug 2025
The East of England has lost 39 percent of its nightclubs in the last four years, with Popworld in Chelmsford shutting up shop today (2 August 2025).
This month Essex alone has seen the closures of Walkabout in Chelmsford, Yates in Colchester, Moo Moo in Southend, and now Popworld.
Popworld opened in Chelmsford in 2018 and the sports bar Walkabout opened in 2016.
Sam Dimond runs an AV installation company in Chelmsford that supplies lighting and equipment to nightclubs and other event spaces.
He tells Greatest Hits Radio these aren’t just club closures, they’re" warning signs that our East of England night-time economy is in danger."
In just four years, the East of England has had more nightclubs closing than the national average of 33% since March 2020.
Mr Dimond believes the reasons are "rising costs, tighter licensing, poor late-night transport, and post-pandemic consumer shifts."
"But nothing seems to be being done to try and stop the closures" he adds.
"We just don’t seem to have the same commitment to saving our clubs and pubs here.
"They are worth millions to our local economy, and really, we should be thinking about how to save them rather than accepting their fate.
"If this continues, we’re not just losing venues, we’re dismantling the cultural fabric of Essex’s towns. By that, I mean we’ll lose jobs, tourism, and places where people gather, celebrate, and feel safe.
Mr Dimon is campaigning for targeted support for venue infrastructure: energy relief, licensing reform, better policing and transport, and stronger representation of Essex's clubs and pubs.
"Let’s stop the lights dimming on Essex nightlife, while we still can.”
Green Party campaigner and former publican, James Vessey-Miller, has also called for urgent action to support nightlife and live music venues within Southend.
He says: "Since the pandemic, Southend has seen a dramatic reduction in our nightlife offering, with many of the City Centre’s venues now shuttered.
"The venues that remain open are facing unprecedented pressures; including noise complaints from new housing built near venues, dramatic increases in rents and rates, and restrictive licensing conditions.
“Venues like this are important for fostering a thriving city centre and play a key role in the attraction, well-being, and employment opportunities of local people."
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) reports that nearly 1,000 night-time businesses have closed in the East of England in the past five years.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, says:
"Before the pandemic, many of these establishments were thriving, demonstrating their profitability and resilience.
"However, the onslaught of COVID-19 brought forth not only health challenges but was followed closely by an unprecedented cost of operating crisis.
"Many of these businesses could have weathered the storm if adequate support had been provided. Instead, a lack of consideration and support has led to countless closures.
"The truth lies in the economic impact, driven by poor policy decisions, overbearing regulatory controls and inadequate infrastructure."
The NTIA has called for more protection and long-term solutions for the nightclub industry.