When i first spoke to Varsity back in July I mentioned that we hadn’t seen the “summer of love” that we anticipated when the clubs reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic. Although there was some fleeting temporary interest, potential club goers were more interested in staying at home. By limiting the environment of teenagers to their home and school via zoom, they become accustomed to it as they grew into young adults, and changing established habits is the hardest task in marketing. Add to this the rising prices of booze and entry, mixed with a lack of disposable income and you inevitably end up in the worst-case-scenario for late night venues.
It’s not just Cambridge; this is a national issue. Clubs, once the lifeblood of nightlife, are struggling to keep up with a new generation who socialise differently and a cost-of-living crisis that leaves little room for nights out. A pint can now hit £7 in some venues, while entry fees that once felt reasonable now seem excessive. For students and young people, that’s enough to say, “no thanks,” and seek alternatives that are either cheaper or free—like house parties, pub gardens, or simply staying home.
But what feels different this time is the lasting shift in mindset. Post-pandemic, young people prioritise comfort and familiarity. Home is easier; home is cheaper. And this isn’t just about Covid—it’s about technology too. Platforms like Discord, TikTok, and Snapchat have built virtual communities that often replace the need for physical spaces to connect. When socialising online feels effortless, why venture out into the real world, where everything costs more and feels less certain?
The clubbing landscape is also caught in a catch-22. Venues raise prices to survive, but in doing so, they alienate their core audience. Promoters, independent or otherwise, are feeling the squeeze, struggling to turn a profit as audiences thin out. Many clubs are responding by cutting costs—streamlining their offerings, sticking to in-house promotions, and ditching the creative risk that once made nights out feel fresh and exciting. But less variety doesn’t help anyone, and when clubs become predictable, it’s even harder to draw people in.
That said, Cambridge’s nightlife is changing—and change can mean growth, offering new opportunities for fresh events and ideas. The shift we’re seeing isn’t necessarily the end; it’s a turning point. New creative minds are stepping up, and the nightlife landscape has the potential to adapt, innovate, and flourish. I’m excited for what’s to come in 2025. I think we’ll likely see more tectonic shifts in the scene, but also eruptions of creative new opportunities that will breathe fresh life into nights out in the city.
While the days of packed-out dancefloors seven nights a week might feel like a distant memory, there’s still a craving for connection. People do want to go out; they just want it to feel worth their time and money. Whether that’s through more curated events, interactive experiences, or reimagining what a night out can be, the clubs that survive will be the ones that adapt.
Things are changing, and change is uncomfortable—but it also creates opportunity. There’s a chance here to reimagine nightlife, to rethink what people want and how to give it to them. It’s going to take creativity, commitment, and, most importantly, listening to the people who still believe in the magic of a night out. Because at its core, nightlife isn’t just about drinking or dancing—it’s about feeling connected, being part of something bigger, and sharing moments that can’t be recreated anywhere else.
The challenge is to remind people why that matters. And as someone who’s spent years in this industry, I believe it still does.
