I’m not being funny but… London nightlife is in a weird place, ain't it? As someone who’s been in the industry for over 30 years, I still haven’t seen it all. I always say life goes in cycles — things come about, they grow and eventually die, leaving space for something new to be born. Nightlife in the capital is no different. We have the success stories of Printworks, E1 and others, but anyone in the industry will attest it’s been a challenge keeping London at the forefront of the global dance scene.
From the Blitz kids, to the West End, to the birth of acid house and rave culture and so on, the landscape of London’s clubbing scene has always evolved and never in a straight line. People underestimate the value of the night-time economy towards London thriving, but they are deeply intertwined. Not many people remember that in the Seventies London was on its knees, as was New York for that matter. As these cities became nightlife meccas, they also transformed into two of the most desirable cities in the world to live in. It is strange that we now live in a society where our venues are under constant threat — from civilians and public servants alike.
