'It will be a disaster': How the nightlife industry is being affected by coronavirus

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Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

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The days of Friday post-work drinks, dancing in a crowded club, and competing for a seat on the night tube may seem like a distant memory.

As the public continues to stay at home, the nightlife industry is taking a devastating hit.

Bars, pubs and clubs are set to reopen when the lockdown is lifted, but it remains unclear how these venues will open their doors while social distancing measures remain in place.

“Opening up with social distancing will not work,” Andy Maddocks, CEO of bar and events operator Mothership Group, told The Independent.

“If the government says [venues] can open at 50 per cent capacity, that is when you’ll see the whole industry collapse like a house of cards.”

But some sectors of the industry are finding ways to adapt during the lockdown.

Online music platform Boiler Room have launched ‘Streaming From Isolation’, a series which gives artists a platform to live-stream sets from their homes.

Parties hosted via video conferencing apps such as Zoom are also giving people an opportunity to stay connected while apart, with people paying money for an exclusive — albeit virtual — nightclub experience.

For all the latest coronavirus news follow The Independent's daily live blog.