'No city can grow without a night-time economy'

Bosses of night-time businesses have been told they need to start offering more for young people who do not drink alcohol.

At the first Igniting Yorkshire Evening Economy Conference, representatives from the leisure and hospitality sector also called on politicians to help them lift the industry out of a "decade of decline".

Organisers of the summit in Bradford said the industry contributed £93.7bn to the UK economy last year alone.

However, business leaders said a sluggish post-pandemic recovery and the cost-of-living crisis had led to growing concerns about decline in the sector.

Solutions discussed included involving young people in planning the future of city centres, and improving safety for women.

The changing drinking habits dividing generations were a particular talking point, with suggestions that around a quarter of young people today did not drink alcohol.

The conference heard offering more gaming venues, street food options and more inclusive activities could help appeal to a younger, teetotal demographic.

The event was hosted by the organisation Bradford at Night, alongside the Night-Time Industries Association.

Elizabeth Murphy, managing director of Bradford at Night, said: “This is a call to action for leaders that have failed to acknowledge a night-time trade exists, by ignoring decade-long issues or providing adequate support for independent businesses fighting to survive in a struggling economy."

Philip Kolvin KC, who previously led a commission on the night-time economy in London, urged Yorkshire colleagues to "do it properly".

Daniel Layton, who runs Al’s Mars Bar in Saltaire, told the BBC that more funding, and helping people feel safer on nights out would be a good starting point for drawing people into Bradford city centre.

But he said the key was not necessarily to "change what we've got at the moment, but grow it”.

Eleanor Boam, who works at the New Inn pub in Wetherby, was also worried about security issues affecting footfall.

She wanted a fresh focus on policing around the night-time economy.

Barry Bradley from Napoleon's Casino said there were challenges facing Bradford and other city centres.

He said: “Without a night-time economy, no city can grow.

"So we are here to say we're ready, we're open, let's talk, because the investment that we put in now is there for the future."

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association, said: “I think Bradford, Leeds, and all the different cities in the North need to be celebrated.

“And this journey, in terms of starting to influence policy and central government decision-making as a collective, is vitally important for Yorkshire as a whole.

"This is the start of a journey that's going to make a difference for Yorkshire."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.