Curfew axe blamed for nightclub closure

THE removal of Inverness’s controversial night-time curfew is being blamed for the closure of a popular city nightspot.

Miami nightclub and Aces bar in High Street has shut with the loss of about 20 jobs.

Owner Vinny Macleod blames the lifting of the curfew, which stopped people entering larger bars and clubs after midnight, for encouraging people to drink at home for longer before travelling into the city centre.

Other licenced premises have noticed a similar trend.

The "Cinderella" curfew was axed by the Highland Licensing Board in November 2012 following a campaign by local people despite strong opposition from police, who feared it would threaten public safety and increase violence. The restriction had been in place for almost a decade.

There has been no marked increase in disorder but Miami’s demise reveals a hidden commercial cost.

"People are coming out later and it is affecting businesses," said Mr Macleod, who co-ran the club with business partner Amit Patni. "A venue of our size, we were used to having between 900 and 1000 people in every Saturday before midnight.

"To begin with it did not really impact but now people have had time to adjust. They know they can drink at home for longer and it will be cheaper.

"Our busy time changed to 1.30am and we closed at 3am so we were getting less fare. An hour-and-a-half of trade is not really enough."

Mr Macleod added opening later was not an option as the club had applied for one-off late licences until 4am in the past and failed.

"We just could not make it work anymore," he continued. "There are quite a lot of upset people out there but there is nothing we can do to bring them in earlier as getting drunk at supermarket prices is cheaper. It is sad because we have been here for three-and-a-half years, met some great people and had some fantastic acts like James Arthur, Coolio and JLS.

"I just want to say thank-you to the Inverness public for all their support."

Vinyl and Gs nightclub manager Ian Jobes recognises the trend, although his premises on Castle Street had not been as severely affected as they target an older clientele.

"Lifting of the curfew has had quite an impact on the industry," said Mr Jobes, who used to run Smith and Jones, High Street, and Auctioneers, Church Street.

"There are more people having a lot more to drink at home before they come into town. What it has done is move our busy hour by about an hour or so.

"We are surviving but the industry is hard. It is about getting the entertainment right, you have got to cater for everybody."

Kit Fraser, who owns Hootananny, Church Street, has not noticed any change in his figures, but said: "I do think the nightclubs have been hit by the curfew being lifted but the pubs have probably benefited at their expense.

"People are spending more time in the pubs because there is no need to rush to leave to get in a nightclub before midnight. To lose a big nightclub like Miami is significant."

Highland councillor Maxine Smith, chairwoman of the Highland Licensing Committee, stands by her committee’s decision to lift the curfew.

"What it has done is change the dynamics of the competition," she said. "It comes down to how individual businesses manage themselves and I know places like Johnny Foxes and The Den are doing well.

"What has happened is people are now exercising their right to choose."

One year after the curfew was removed, Police Scotland reported there had been no evidence of increased public disorder. A spokesman could not comment further yesterday.

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