Kingston’s clubbing scene is struggling and Covid-19 isn’t helping

The demolition of the Hippodrome music venue has finally begun, though doors officially closed back in 2017.

Kingston nightlife has gradually decreased over the past decade, at the start of 2010 Kingston was home to six different nightclubs:

Nightclub:

The Hive, Essence and Oceana (Now Pryzm)

Live Music / Nightclub:

McClusky’s (Now Viper Rooms) and The Hippodrome

Late night Bar:

Bacchus

Essence closed in 2014, the Hippodrome followed in 2017 and the Hive 2018. Now in 2021 Kingston is down to three and who knows whether those will survive the loss of business caused by the pandemic.

The former Hippodrome building is being demolished to make space for 151 luxury apartments, the building will contain no affordable housing.

The Hippodrome saw a variety of acts from Ed Sheeran, Zara Larsson, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, to Tinie Tempah, Example, Devlin, The 1975, Kissy Sellout, and      Chase & Status.

COVID-19 is playing a major part in the destruction of nightlife across the country.

“Three quarters of clubs and late-night venues will be forced to permanently close without proper financial support.” 

The Night Time Industries Association.

Back in January the Deltic Group, owner of Pryzm and a variety of iconic nightclubs across the UK, went into administration.

Rekom group purchased 44 out of the 55 former Deltic venues, including Kingston’s Pryzm.

Hopefully, the Viper Rooms will reopen when the Lockdown ends, the lease runs until 2022, so time yet for some late-night entertainment.

Many students come to University expecting the ‘university experience’ that involves diving into an overdraft and getting trollied every night of the week.

For the past year 11 months, this hasn’t happened.

Students are supposed to make mistakes and experience life, this is their first taste of freedom after all.

But what happens if there’s nowhere left in Kingston to make these mistakes?