Nightclub and Bar Trends to adopt at your venue
The nightlife landscape has been evolving rapidly ever since the pandemic. Though 2020 feels like an age away, nightlife’s closure then staggered reopening had a drastic effect on the sector. Trends were shaken up, and consumer appetites changes. Venue’s which offered more experiential evenings won the most, with similar business spawning and skyrocketing in popularity. Social media and influencer marketing a vital promotional component, shaping the way the general public explore venues.
KAM Insights, market leading insight-driven research organisation specialising in hospitality, have noted their trends. They are experts across multiple disciplines includes operations, marketing, consumer experience and legislation; offering consultancy across the sector. The below information reviews their trends while also taking our own experience from what we’ve heard from NDML client.
Read KAM Insight’s Hospitality Trends of 2026
Competitor analysis and predicting popular trends is a key way to growth, improving revenue and footfall. Mimicking or adapting trends is helpful for business to understand the developing market. So here are NDML’s top trend for nightclub and bar to be aware of in 2026:
Price points are hardening
Although inflation is easing, consumer are still hyper price-focussed. The cost of living is expensive and consumers spend cautiously. Upselling consumers is all-the-more difficult, instead businesses should stay competitive with their price points.
KAM Insights have listed the “acceptable” price points:
- £6 for a pint
- £4 for a coffee
- £15 for a pizza
If you choose to price your services above these price points, KAM argues that the most likely consequence will be reduced sales rather than success. KAM advise business review competitor data and stick to price points as to not alienate customers.
Deliver Value through Experiences
Whether it’s tickets, drinks or games – nights-out are becoming more costly for the consumer. This is unavoidable with inflation and tax rises forcing up prices. However, with increased prices, nightclubs and bars will need to deliver suitable value – to fulfil raised consumer expectations.
Everyone knows consumers are now more experience-led. Instagrammable moments and once-in-a-lifetime experiences are valued and sought after by customers. Nightclubs and bars need to look at how they can deliver these moments, and offer adequate value.
KAM’s recommendations of where value can be found are:
- Consistency – delivering fantastic experiences consistently on every visit and across multiple days in the week.
- Clarity – providing a clear understanding of what services are available, and promoting these services openly.
- Atmosphere – business should look at how then can build an atmosphere in their venue.
- Service – experiences are not only defined by services, but also the quality of service delivered by your staff.
- A sense of occasion – what extra elements can you adopt to ensure a specialness and uniqueness to each visit.
Fewer venues means less footfall
Nightclubs and bars are struggling. The number of nightclubs have halved in ten years (reports ALMR). Many towns who had one nightclub in 2020 now have zero, (26%) and some have lost all their late-night venues, including bars.
2025 saw a record decline, with the fewest nightclubs operating in the UK than ever before. Fewer venues not only indicate increased pressure and financial challenges for nightclub owners, but also a smaller appetite for clubs.
Overall frequency of visits and footfall numbers have dropped. Nightclubs must now work harder to resume footfall and build custom. They need to actively advertise and creatively promote their services to draw in consumers. Regular footfall cannot be relied upon as it once was.
Equally, because of fewer competition, there is more potential to dominate markets and cut through into public consciousness. Social feeds are so congested with various activities, that nightclubs and bars need to be special and implement planning in order to find success.
Events are on top
High energy events which harbour special occasions are finding success and growing. Club nights, rooftop parties, special guest features – nightclubs are promoting events to structure their unmissable experiences. Events are often ticketed, helping nightclub managers understand the popularity of each night. Manager can be experimental and shape their offering around what works and what’s popular. and adding a guaranteed reliable revenue stream.
There’s also a wider variety of event. Silent discos have exploded in popularity, and are easy to implement. Bottomless brunches are being hosted at bars frequently, seeing great success, and cocktail workshops offer excellent value.
Events enable to nightclub to tailor separate nights to separate audiences. KAM points out that brands who try to be everything to everyone risk losing relevance. Events lead toward the festivalisation of nightclubbing, which is a trending direction for many nightlife business owners.
Wider opening times
The BBC argues “Nightlife culture isn’t dying, it’s evolving.” Daytime nightclubbing culture is growing, and afternoon party sessions are being adopted by nightclub businesses. Demand hasn’t disappeared it’s just changed. Long-term survival of club culture may reside in more flexible opening times.
Licensing conditions are forcing longstanding club operators out of business. Noise complaints and legislation are closing venues. To get around it, nightclub managers are being creative with their opening times. Weekdays are often as popular as weekends, mainly due to expense. The next generation cannot afford to fill dance floors every Saturday; club owners say they have had no choice but to diversify what their venue can offer.
Nightclub spaces are becoming multi-use. They are opening up to functions, culture nights, space rental, sports watch parties and conferences. The versatility of these venues enable them to become more than just ‘dead’ space during typical closing hours, and instead benefit the local community.
Adopting AI
AI has rapidly been adopted by most mainstream industries. Whether it’s administrative tasks, management, incident reporting, health and safety, or food safety – AI speeds up processes. In 2026, NDML and KAM expect AI to be increasingly adopted by operators.
Hospitality brands host more data than ever. This data, if properly utilized, can provide key insights. Complex data can be transformed into narratives, and guest feedback can become actionable points for front-of-house staff. AI will help improve reporting and decision-making, ultimately benefiting the service the nightclub hopes to promote.
Utilising data to understand where investment should be implemented is how AI can best benefit business owners. Whether it’s in stocking, ticketing, marketing or event management, data is progressively helping business owners reinvent hospitality.
Why do Trends Matter in 2026?
It’s of no doubt, the outlook for nightclub and bar owners is a tough one. Financial challenges continue to plague the sector and there is no prediction that consumers will return in their thousands back to the night. Bar and nightclub operators should instead focus on incremental gains and adopting what works. Growth is possible, but it is stifled and difficult. The industry is in a moment of transition; where phenomenon such as festivalisation, competitive socialising and daytime events are on the up.
In times of uncertainty, it’s all the more important for nightclubs and bars to have a broker in their corner supporting them. A broker with experience in the market, understanding the most pressing challenges, as well as the challenges to come. Liability, Business Insurance, Buildings and Contents, Employers Rights guidance, HR and Health and Safety; nightclubs need comprehensive support.
NDML are the nation’s favourite nightlife insurance broker. As specialists in the sector, NDML work alongside organisations, such as the NTIA, to support venues, as well as to deliver comprehensive insurance. Read reviews from our clients today, or get in touch for a confidential non-committal review of your policy.