Rebuilding Bristol’s nighttime economy from the ground up

Carly Heath has worked as a cloakroom attendant, promoter, bartender, event organiser and more – and is now tasked with championing a sector facing unrivalled challenges.

“I understand the city very well, so I understand the challenges the individuals and independents faced pre-pandemic and now the compounded effect of everything that’s happened over the last 15 months,” says Bristol’s new nighttime economy adviser.

Having taken up the role in April, Carly is now embarking on the mammoth task of helping an industry brought to its knees by the pandemic rebuild and thrive once more.

Speaking to Bristol24/7 for an interview that also features in the latest Behind the Headlines podcast, Carly talks about the significant threats facing the nighttime economy, some of the positives to have come out of the last 15 months and ambitions to make the city more accessible for all after dark.

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“We class the nighttime economy as everything from 6pm to 6am,” explains Carly.

“It’s not just pubs, clubs and bars. It’s not falling out of kebab shops, it’s not just crime and antisocial behaviour, it’s all of the life that happens in the city after dark. It’s where our communities live, where we get together with our friends. It’s the life and soul of the city.”

The nighttime sector also employs around a third of the workforce in Bristol – photo by Giulia Spadafora/ Soul Media

Worth around £66 billion to the national economy before the pandemic, the nighttime sector also employs around a third of the workforce in Bristol, according to Carly, who is fast gathering data to support her work in facilitating recovery.

A co-founder and trustee of Brisfest and founder of marketing agency Don’t Panic Bristol, Carly has a background in music, arts and culture. When Bristol joined the likes of London and Manchester in creating a ‘night czar’, she jumped at the chance to act as a conduit between the city council and the businesses and individuals who are part of the nighttime economy.

Outlining some of the key challenges faced, she continues: “The first challenge is getting people back into the city once that June 21 date lands. Our first challenge is to try and facilitate that. A lot of people have left the sector and I know a lot of places looking for staff. We are having to rebuild from the ground up.”

One of the biggest concerns is commercial rent debt some venues could be faced with through no fault of their own after long enforced closures. When the moratorium on commercial landlord eviction ends, Carly is concerned about the implications for many businesses.

“Nationally, over 75 per cent could be trading insolvent if the moratorium is lifted without government support,” says the 38-year-old.

“There are some people dealing with a commercial rent debt crisis. We’re working with government to do what we can to support the sector to reopen.”

Carly described the nighttime sector as “the beating heart of Bristol’s culture” when she took on the part time role in April and she is keen to shout about its successes.

The popular Breaking Bread is a collaboration between a number of people across Bristol’s food and drink scene – photo courtesy of Plaster

From the likes of Lakota opening up its garden to host comedy nights and more, to the collaborative efforts behind Breaking Bread, she says there has been a real sense of people rallying together and bringing a new offering to Bristol.

“There are some pockets of joy but definitely still some significant challenges,” says Carly.

Bristol24/7 broke the news the city was to employ a ‘night czar’ in January. The part-time position has a pro-rata salary of £50,000 and sits within Bristol’s City Office.

Prior to taking on the role, Carly took to Twitter with her personal views on sexual entertainment venues (SEVs).

“Sex work IS work,” she tweeted on March 2. “Taking a moralistic stance is beyond the realm of licensing. Some of the dancers are pure athletes, astonishingly strong. This decision needs to be backed up by data, not observational anecdotes and SWERFy politicking.”

On the same day, she also tweeted: “Regulation of these spaces without evidence that these venues are causing Actual Harm to the women that work there is overstepping the boundaries of local councils. They should be working with these venues, blanket bans rarely work and push the issue underground.”

She requested that the subject of SEVs should not be discussed during this interview.

A subject she is keen to talk about is her work to champion the nighttime economy on a national and global platform. As the city’s nighttime economy adviser, Carly attends cross-parliamentary meetings on the sector’s recovery and has connections with her counterparts around the world

“There is a sense of us, as an industry, standing together and working to amplify voices,” she says.

“I feel incredibly privileged to be in the position I’m in and I really hope that I do Bristol proud to be able to represent our wonderful nighttime spaces at a city level – I know the city well and I’ve worked in every single type of job within nighttime economy.

Inevitably the focus right now is on rebuilding the sector that has perhaps been worst hit by the effects of the pandemic, but what about ambitions for the future?

“It’s something I think about a lot,” says Carly.

“I would like to see a nighttime economy that’s a lot more accessible for different types of people. I’d like us to be talking about the nighttime economy as something to be celebrated and something that everybody should be able to access. The city doesn’t stop at 6pm; it’s where we meet our friends, it’s where we meet our lovers it’s where we connect with our communities – I want to see us taking planning decisions that incorporate nightlife spaces amongst them and make sure our city and high streets don’t just stop at 6pm.

“Also, taking sustainability of the night seriously as well – encourage more active transport, create safer routes. Design our cities so they can be navigated 24 hours a day.”

Carly wants to help make Bristol’s night life accessible to all – photo by Shotaway

Main photo by Shotaway

Read more: Bristol to appoint new ‘night czar’ to champion venues