Transport bosses have responded to criticism of Belfast's "serious problem" at night time with a lack of taxis and late buses or trains by one of the city's leading music promoters.
It comes after Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in the Cathedral Quarter called for an intervention to the problem of finding a way home at the end of the night.
Recently it has become something of an ordeal particularly at weekends, with Charlotte branding it "embarrassing".
Read more: Belfast music hub boss says 'embarrassing' night out transport problems need sorted out
Charlotte said the industry is losing customers because people enjoying a night out in the city are worried they may miss their last bus or train home and not be able to get a taxi.
She highlighted the ongoing problem in a tweet in the early hours of Sunday morning and said "the streets are full of people trying to get home" after a night out.
Her tweet prompted a huge response from others who have faced transport issues while enjoying a night out in Belfast.
She told Belfast Live : "We're doing all this great cultural work, which is bringing people into the city as well as the local community to enjoy and get back out there again after the pandemic but the demand isn't being met around public transport.
"When you're running a venue you want your audience, community and customers to have a really good experience overall and be safe when they go home. It's just really frustrating when you're trying to put on a great offering in the city."
Charlotte said one solution would be to improve Belfast's late night public transport.
She added: "Translink do provide a great service but one option might be to pilot a late night service at weekends in the summer. I don't think it would be as difficult as they think in a city that is pitching itself as an international destination for great weekend breaks."
In response, Translink said it is aiming to provide further additional later evening services to support the night-time economy.
A spokesperson added: “We are currently running our full bus and train timetable as published. For larger events we also provide additional later evening bus and train services to cater for the increased demand.
“Northern Ireland’s public transport network is vital, for the economic, social and environmental well-being of our society and we aim to provide further additional later evening capacity as we build back post Covid-19 to support the night-time economy.”
One taxi driver for Value Cabs recently spoke to Belfast Live about the ongoing transport problems in the city.
He said between the pandemic slowing business, the rise in the cost of living and the availability of steadier work elsewhere, taxiing had become a much less attractive option.
He said that there had been some talk of a fare increase around March time but it did not progress anywhere before last month's Assembly election.
He also said the lack of taxi drivers around for work meant people were less likely to go into the city centre for fear of waiting hours after a night out, meaning the cycle would continue without intervention.
Meanwhile Stephen Anton from Fonacab said their numbers have been hit hard by drivers leaving and not returning during the pandemic.
He said that from a position of having around 1,440 drivers available before Covid-19, they're down to roughly 900 now.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which is responsible for public transport as well as regulating taxi operators, says it's committed to addressing the issues facing the industry.
A DfI spokesperson said: “The shortage of taxi drivers has many contributory factors. Potential drivers will compare the industry to other driving jobs that do not involve unsociable hours.
“The Covid pandemic has had an impact and resulted in the loss of drivers due to less work, reduced hours and health concerns.
“Cost of living pressures, particularly increased fuel prices, also influence the attractiveness of the industry to potential new recruits.
“DfI is responsible for the regulation of the taxi industry. The Department is committed to working with and helping the taxi industry address the range of issues that it faces.”
Read more: Why is it still so hard to get a taxi in Belfast?
Read more: Belfast bar worker forced to walk home in early hours as cab firms struggle to meet demand
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
