“Erection Section”.
Probably not a new DJ name.
Agree with a previous point made about the who position being basically a “chocolate bauble”, not sure what powers she has and what she can realistically achieve (could easily apply to anybody who has the word “czar” in their job title). Has been mentioned loads of times before about rising rents and gentrification of areas that were previously nightlife hot spots being a major driver in the decline. The cycle of an area going from a wasteland ripe for a scene to move in, to being hip, to gentrification and then developers moving in and killing it, is getting quicker and quicker. Tottenham Hale being the latest example, gone from really good venues in crumbling industrial buildings, to another area of generic tower blocks in
(seemingly) a few years.
I think austerity plays a big part here as well. Overstretched and underfunded local authorities no longer have the resources to do the necessary checks, both before and after issuing licences to venues, so it is easier to refuse them. Similarly, local police lack resources to control and manage the outside of venues and local streets. As a result, they default to objections. This is probably something that Amy Lame could have more influence over.
In the area of London that i live in (Stoke Newington) I am noticing more gatherings starting to happen in semi legal and illegal venues, this is in the form of house parties that seem to go out of control, and also gatherings in shops, businesses and hairdressers that usually involve soundsystems. These are often in the middle of residential areas and many locals are getting increasingly irritated by them, and are calling the police to deal with the problems that arise. I can see these becoming an increasing problem, and spreading to areas such as parks and canalside land as the spring turns to summer. In does demonstrate though that people are always going to want to go out, and if the legal venues aren’t there anymore, semi legal and illegal alternatives will spring up to service the need.
Manchester’s night time tsar putting his two pennies worth in on Soho
Some data here - doesn’t make great reading - along with some mayoral candidate “sticking plaster” ideas to improve the situation and some criticism of the Czar…
was just reading that!
Lamè is resigning as night czar
Any truth to the rumour that she’s being replaced by a chocolate teapot?
Impossible job.She is battling big issues like gentrication and a cost of living squeeze (especially amongst students and under 30’s, the key going out demograph) but you have to ask what the point of a nightlife czar is? The real power lies with the local authorities and police, little evidence that she pulled togethe or influenced either.To my mind, any role that has “czar” in front of it is a job created to convince people that something is being done, when the reality is that it’s a few headines and press releases that come to nothing (people may be old enough to remember “Litter Czar” Richard Branson).
Read an article recently that pointed out how few post 1am venues there are in London zone 1 and 2 now. Can’t remember the number now, but i was pretty shocked that it was so low.
Remember going to New York in the early 2000’s and being surprised how little there was in the way of clubs/and late bars, especially in Manhattan (James Murphy said in an interview from this time that a medium sized British city like Nottingham had more going on). London has now gone the same way.
Who is Sacha Lord exactly? An entrepreneur?
Property developer / promoter
Manchester Mill has done some very good articles on Sacha Lord (and lots of other bloody good journalism besides) - will try and dig out a couple of links (unless someone else can oblige)
Anyone remember Tom Bloxham? I can’t help but get similar vibes about both of them (although ISTR some other stuff about TB: due to fuzzy memories from that time, let’s just say there may have been some other heavier allegations floating around that I wouldn’t want to publicly misremember)
Yeah there’s been some great journalism from Manchester Mill on SL, they basically caught him bang to rights, he threatened to sue them then had to back down.
Even the FT is worried about London nightlife
As an outsider looking in, albeit one who lived over there for 2 years, it absolutely amazes me that the UK is where it is. Nightlife is such an ingrained part of the, ahem, fabric of life there that I can’t really fathom that it could all practically disappear in the next couple of years for condos and cities taking away spaces. It’s truly sad.
Had no idea it was still going tbh. Last went about 20 years ago!
Used to go most weekends 1997/8/9 when I lived in Brixton. Had no idea either that it was still going!