Black Country nightclub to close on New Year's Day. This is what the owner has to say about the Government
A Black Country nightclub will close its doors on New Year's Day, blaming falling visitor numbers and rising costs amid strong words for the Government.
Red by Night, at the Waterfront in Brierley Hill, near Dudley, will close at the end of its New Year's Eve party. A programme of events lined up for January are now cancelled.
The venue, which holds live music and comedy nights, has been at the Waterfront since 2019. It took over the former PJ's unit, which had been empty for 10 years.
But director James Raybone said the venue was no longer viable, citing a notable downturn since the change of Government last year.
"Red By Night has been a place where people met, celebrated milestones, danced without judgement, sang at the top of their lungs, discovered new music, supported live acts, and made memories that will stay with us forever," he said.
"Like many independent venues across the country, the reality we face is difficult. Ongoing economic pressures, rising costs, and a sustained drop in footfall have made it impossible for the venue to continue in a sustainable way.
"This decision was not taken lightly. We have fought hard, adapted, reworked, and tried everything we could to keep Red By Night alive, but sometimes passion alone isn’t enough."
Mr Raybone produced two graphs, showing how takings had fallen year-on-year, and said there had been a notable fall in confidence since the election in July last year.
He said there had been a fall in takings for all but one of the past eight months compared to the same period last year.
Mr Raybone said his business needed takings of £30,000 a month to comfortably survive.
"In 2024, we were mostly above that line. In 2025, we are below it again and again. That’s what slowly squeezes a venue.
"Not one bad night. Not one bad decision. Just month after month of 'almost enough'. The room didn’t suddenly empty, people just came out less often. And those that did come out spent less.
"In July 2024, a new government was elected. Whatever your politics, what followed was a very real drop in consumer confidence.
"People became more cautious. Nights out turned into 'maybes'. Spending tightened."
Mr Raybone said this happened at the same time as significant rises in wage bills, business rates and supplier and utility costs.
"While customers were spending less, our fixed costs were rising fast."
The club opened in 2019 by husband-and-wife team Darren and Vicki Wilkes. It took its name from the quote attributed to American diplomat Elihu Burritt in the 1830s, who observed: "The Black Country, black by day and red by night, cannot be matched, for vast and varied production, by any other space of equal radius on the surface of the globe."
The venue was taken over by lawyer-turned-DJ Mr Raybone in 2023.
Mr Raybone urged people to support independent businesses rather than large corporate concerns.
"it’s too late for us, there is no bounce back," he said. "But for many independent venues there’s still time for you to make a difference. Put £10 in their till, not Wetherspoons, Starbucks or McDonalds, it could mean the difference between keeping the lights on or off."
