Press & Policy

Scotland’s night-time economy is a major driver of economic activity. Industry estimates suggest the sector generates £43.5 billion across the UK and supports more than 137,000 jobs in Scotland.

It also forms an important part of the visitor economy that helps attract people to our cities and towns. That may explain why Glasgow City Council is now recruiting for Scotland’s first dedicated Night-Time Economy Manager.

The role has been created to help tackle challenges for the night-time economy, while supporting Glasgow’s ambitions to create a more vibrant city centre and help businesses thrive after dark.

Scotland’s night-time economy faces a combination of significant pressures.

Hospitality and entertainment businesses are managing increased energy, food, employment and other operating costs, while venues in many towns and cities must also contend with limited late-night public transport and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff.

Limited transport options are felt especially sharply by workers whose shifts finish after regular bus and rail services have ended, leaving them with few, and sometimes expensive, options for travelling home safely.

Patterns of demand are changing too. Research by Centre for Cities, examining spending in Glasgow and other large UK cities, found that weekday spending had shifted away from city centres and that after-work socialising was less prominent in 2024 than before the pandemic. This suggests that hybrid working has weakened and reshaped the traditional after-work trade, particularly in major city centres.

While some traditional forms of night-time activity have declined, people are looking for different experiences.

Consumers are seeking more food-led experiences, cultural activities, live events and other forms of entertainment that do not centre purely on alcohol. Interest is also growing in experience-led leisure, from live performances and immersive events to competitive socialising and wellness-focused activities.

Mastercard’s 2026 Experience Economy research found that 88% of UK consumers would reduce spending on “things” to spend more on experiences, and that food-related activities and live events were among the most popular leisure choices.

Meeting this demand will require more than a diverse and compelling offer. These experiences must also be accessible to the customers who enjoy them and the workers who deliver them.

Transport is therefore central to the success of any night-time economy. Customers need convenient and affordable ways to travel to and from venues, while workers need reliable and safe options for reaching early shifts or returning home late at night. Where services end before venues close, the cost and availability of travel can become a barrier to employment as well as a constraint on demand.

Improving transport links will be key to supporting changing working patterns and ensuring people can travel safely and affordably at night. However, transport alone will not be enough. Better alignment between planning, licensing and economic development will also be important in creating a supportive operating environment.

Thriving town and city centres after dark can boost employment, increase footfall and support the high street. Realising these benefits will require closer alignment across transport, planning, public safety and business policy.

The new role in Glasgow and the proposed role in Edinburgh suggest that a more strategic approach is beginning to take shape, bringing businesses, public bodies and communities together. While these initiatives will not address all the challenges facing the sector, they are a welcome step forward.

Scotland’s night-time economy is changing, and the policy response needs to change with it. There is scope to support a broader mix of activities after dark, but practical issues around transport, safety and staffing cannot be overlooked.

The aim should be to offer safe, accessible and distinctive experiences across Scotland’s towns and cities. Achieving that will require practical co-ordination and recognition that the night-time economy is not simply a hospitality issue. It is also an important part of how places grow, attract visitors and serve the people who live and work in them.