IT WAS one of Scotland’s most famous nightlife institutions but the Arches closed its doors after a ruling from Glasgow licensing board in 2015 that the venue had close no later than midnight, a death sentence for a nightclub.
This led to an outcry from figures including Irvine Welsh, Liz Lochhead and members of Franz Ferdinand, who implored the Scottish Government to keep it open.The Arches was the central hub in the city’s clubbing revolution, hosting famous dance music acts including Daft Punk, who played their first UK show there in 1997. Yet it was forced to close its doors by an out-of-touch officialdom.
Contrast this with Berlin, where the nightclub Berghain was recognised by the government last year as a venue for “high culture”, giving it the same status as concert venues, theatres and museums. Berlin is renowned for its nightlife, in particular Berghain, often referred to as the best nightclub in the world. By recognising it as a place of high culture, the authorities in Berlin have embraced its nightlife as something the city should be proud of and Glasgow should do the same.
The closure of the Arches was a clear sign that, unlike Berlin, the authorities were not prepared to recognise clubbing as part of the city’s cultural make up. They enforced the midnight closing time following the drug-related death of a young woman. That was sorrowful but drug deaths are not exclusive to nightclubs.
Glasgow is renowned for its nightlife. It has numerous bars and clubs, with the city buzzing with activity every night. The SubClub on Jamaica Street celebrates its 30th anniversary this year while its weekly night “Subculture” is the current longest running house and techno night in the world. The city is also host to Pressure, a globally renowned club night played by famous artists since its inception in 1998.These clubs are valuable not only in a cultural but also in a financial sense. In a survey by the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University, it was found that the night time economy generates £2.16 billion annually, as well as being responsible for 16,200 full-time jobs.
The licensing laws in Berlin allow the clubs to open until the party stops, which can mean the clubs opening on the Friday evening until the Monday morning. This is where Glasgow could take a leaf out of their book. Licensing laws here mean that clubs are normally open no later than 4am. More relaxed opening hours would allow people to enjoy themselves and wind down naturally, instead of having to cram their night in before closing time. The scene in Berlin is more relaxed thanks to its laws, so perhaps a similar approach in Glasgow would have an equally positive result.
Recently in London there has been a similar case to the Arches, where the club Fabric was forced to close its doors after two drug-related deaths. There was outcry and eventually a deal was struck between Islington council and the club, and it reopened with new licensing laws. This was seen as a victory for clubbing culture in London. With a similar attitude, we can ensure that what happened to the Arches does not happen to any of Glasgow’s other clubs, and that they are celebrated and preserved as part of the city’s cultural landscape.
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