Brighton must ‘wake up’ to LGBTQ+ venue crisis, says Revenge and R-Bar boss in response to council statement
The managing director of Brighton's Revenge nightclub and the soon-to-close R-Bar has welcomed a pledge from the city council to support the nightlife sector, but warned that the loss of LGBTQ+ venues can no longer be ignored.
The comments come after Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey described the closure of R-Bar and Charles Street Tap within days of each other as "heartbreaking" and pledged to continue lobbying for measures to protect the city's cultural and LGBTQ+ venues.
In a statement, Sankey said the closures would be "felt acutely" by LGBTQ+ residents and visitors and described them as a stark reminder of the need to safeguard venues that form part of Brighton's identity.
"It is a stark reminder that we need to do all we can to protect our cultural venues and our LGBTQI+ venues in particular which are part of Brighton's core identity," she said.
Graham Robson
Sankey pointed to the council's revised licensing policy, introduced last year, which she said was designed to give operators greater flexibility to respond to changing economic conditions. She also highlighted lobbying efforts aimed at securing business rates relief for grassroots music venues and pledged to continue pressing the government for further support.
The council leader added that a new night-time economy strategy would be launched later this year and said the authority would work with cultural venues to explore ways of protecting them in the future.
Responding to the statement, Steve Jones, managing director of Revenge and R-Bar, said he welcomed the recognition of the challenges facing the sector, particularly the commitment to developing a new strategy for the city's nightlife.
"I welcome Bella recognising the seriousness of what is happening, and particularly the commitment to a new night-time economy strategy," he said.
However, Jones said the closures of R-Bar and Charles Street Tap should act as a wake-up call for Brighton.
"The closure of R-Bar and Charles Street within days of each other has to be the moment Brighton wakes up to the reality of the situation and urgently starts putting meaningful support in place," he said.
Jones argued that the decline of LGBTQ+ nightlife is not inevitable, pointing to cities such as Manchester and Glasgow as examples of where local authorities have taken a more proactive approach to protecting and growing queer venues.
"Other UK cities, like Manchester and Glasgow, have shown that the decline of LGBTQ+ nightlife is not inevitable when local authorities choose to actively protect and grow it," he said.
He called for dedicated leadership for the night-time economy, stronger year-round promotion of Brighton's LGBTQ+ scene, targeted support for venues and a specific strategy for the city's LGBTQ+ village.
"We need dedicated nightlife leadership, stronger year-round LGBTQ+ promotion, targeted venue support, and specific plans for our LGBTQ+ village," Jones said.
He also urged the council to ensure venue operators are directly involved in shaping the forthcoming strategy.
"I hope Brighton's LGBTQ+ venue operators will now be directly involved in shaping the new strategy, with clear actions, resources, and accountability.
"We simply can't afford another plan that doesn't lead to tangible change."
The exchange comes amid growing concern about the future of Brighton's LGBTQ+ nightlife after R-Bar announced it will close permanently next month following 21 years in the city. Owners cited rising operating costs, including rent, business rates and energy bills, alongside changing consumer spending habits.
The venue's closure follows the recent announcement that Charles Street Tap will also shut in September, prompting renewed debate over how Brighton can protect the LGBTQ+ venues that have long been central to the city's cultural identity and visitor economy.
Graham Robson
Jones' remarks come after Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP Chris Ward described the closures of R-Bar and Charles Street Tap as a "huge loss" for the city and pledged to raise concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ venues with ministers.
In a statement, Ward said he knew how much the two venues meant to Brighton's LGBTQ+ community and said they had served as places of "joy, freedom and inclusion" for decades.
"It is a huge loss to see two major LGBTQ+ venues in our city close," he said.
Ward said the closures highlighted the need for greater support for both the night-time economy and LGBTQ+ venues in particular.
"This just underlines that we need to do much more both locally and nationally to support our night-time economy, and LGBTQ+ venues in particular," he said.
The Labour MP added that Brighton has a "proud LGBTQ+ history and identity" and said everything possible must be done to protect venues and community spaces that form part of the city's heritage.
Ward also revealed he is due to meet Steve Jones this week to discuss the closures and explore what more can be done to support the local hospitality sector.
"I will then raise this both in Parliament and with ministers going forward," he said.
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