Debate contribution: Belfast's Night-time Economy

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 4 February 2025.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

4 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Belfast's Night-time Economy

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4779653

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much indeed, Mr Deputy Speaker. I start by thanking the Members who have come along here this evening and the stakeholders from across Belfast who have been in touch with me about the issue since it appeared in the Order Paper. The genuine interest from across the political spectrum and all sectors of our night-time economy shows the importance in which the issue is held. I genuinely believe that a partnership approach to how we try to secure some important improvements to the night-time economy here in Belfast should be the model that we use moving forward. This week marks one year since the return of a devolved Government in Northern Ireland. This time last year, I made my maiden speech, in which I said that the Assembly will be judged not on its simple return but on its ability to deliver for our citizens, not just in North Belfast but across our capital city. I want to use this Adjournment debate as an opportunity to highlight some of the important factors in Belfast's night-time economy, recognise the challenges that the sector faces and the ongoing work that it is doing and highlight some of the work that we, as an Assembly and an Executive, can achieve. I have no doubt that the new Minister, whom I congratulate on taking up her post, shares the desire to support the night-time economy in Belfast. The economic, cultural and social fabric of our city is defined by our night-time economy. It is that unique mix of our people, our product and our place that makes Belfast so special. The night-time economy is a critical driver not just of economic growth but of cultural vibrancy and community cohesion in Belfast. It is about the places where we share food and drink with our friends. It is the warm hospitality shown to our visitors that brings tourists back in their droves. It is the cultural enrichment of our society that breaks down stereotypes and captures the emotions of our people. I am sure that contributions from Members across the Chamber will highlight the fact that we have some amazing pubs, restaurants, arts venues, cultural attractions and retailers that make Belfast what it is today. The impact that they have on the material well-being not just of our economy but of our people must not and should not be underestimated. Official figures published last year show that, across Northern Ireland, the night-time economy accounts for 40,000 employees and that almost 5,000 separate businesses, the length and breadth of the Province, engage in the night-time economy, with an annual value of £3·3 billion. Across the United Kingdom, unfortunately, the COVID pandemic and rises in National Insurance and in the cost of living have cost the night-time economy a huge amount. That will only be further exacerbated by the decisions taken in the Chancellor's autumn statement that will tax businesses to death. That has already had a negative impact in our capital city: investment plans that were programmed for expansion by businesses have been paused; cultural venues and attractions have been forced to reduce their opening hours, as they can no longer afford to pay staff for full-time employment; and those from our most vulnerable communities who are trying to access work have had limited opportunities. I take this opportunity to thank all those who have invested their time and effort in trying to mitigate some of those impacts. The Northern Ireland Night-Time Commission, which was created by Hospitality Ulster and the Night Time Industries Association, advocates for businesses and has been to the fore in lobbying the Finance Committee, the Economy Committee and their respective Ministers on some of the local levers that we can and should use. We now need the Department for the Economy, which, a number of months ago, stated its intention to publish research into the value of the night-time economy here in Northern Ireland, to publish that research and produce a list of key recommendations that each Department can take forward. I pay tribute to those organisations that, across our city, continue to champion the vital importance of our arts and the cultural vibrancy of the night-time economy. The night-time economy is much more than simply pubs and restaurants. In particular, I draw Members' attention to the report that was produced this time last year by Free the Night, the only charitable organisation in the United Kingdom that is dedicated to creating a safe, progressive and culturally rich environment for nightlife. It has made a number of important recommendations to which the Minister should pay attention. I pay tribute to those who have invested not just their time but their money in transforming our city. People like us, who represent this city, and people from further afield have stepped forward for Belfast. I think of people such as Willie Jack, Niall McKenna and Michael Deane, who have invested their time and money, even in Northern Ireland's most difficult times, to try to transform the city of Belfast that we all love. I also pay tribute to the people who work in the night-time economy. Sometimes they work in the most difficult circumstances, and sometimes they are unseen, but they ensure that our overseas visitors receive a warm welcome when they come here. They include those who ensure that, when we enjoy the night-time economy, we get home safely, and those in the emergency services who support the work of the night-time economy. Belfast's ambition is clear. It is captured perfectly by the Purple Flag group, which has, once again, secured purple flag status for Belfast. The group, which brings together three of Belfast's business improvement districts along with key stakeholders, has a great mission statement to which I believe all Members can sign up. Its aspiration is for Belfast to have the best night-time economy on these islands. We should all try to match that ambition. Before moving on to the immediate interventions that I believe that we should take forward, I congratulate the recently appointed night tsar, Mr Michael Stewart, who has been a dedicated champion of Belfast and our capital city's night-time economy for many years. Michael invested in Belfast when others did not. He ensured that Belfast had a nightlife when others tried to stop us from having one. Michael's love for Belfast has been an infectious disease, I will say, in the most positive way in trying to ensure that our capital city gets the investment that it deserves. I would expect nothing less from a good, solid north Belfast man who has never forgotten his roots. In all the conversations that I have had with stakeholders and representatives, the single biggest issue that I have heard that we, as an Assembly and Executive, must focus on in order to support the growth of the night-time economy is to support late-night public transport in Belfast. For many years, Translink provided the Nightmovers service. It was a huge success, despite operating on only four weekends over a month. Christmas 2024 was its most successful period to date, when 17,000 passengers took advantage of the rail and bus network, coming from all over Northern Ireland to enjoy the night-time economy of Belfast. I am delighted that, thanks to repeated pressure and requests, Translink has now produced and submitted a business case for the creation of a year-round late-night public transport service. That has the potential to have a huge, transformative impact for those who wish to enjoy the night-time economy and, more importantly in some ways, those who work in the night-time economy.

It offers opportunities to expand Belfast city centre's economy in the evening far beyond its seasonal peaks. It provides safety, reassurance and dependability for those wanting to enjoy the night-time economy.

As I become older and greyer in the beard, one of the first things that I think about on a night out is how I will get home. When I first went out to enjoy the capital city, I did not give that a thought, but we clearly need to continue to try to make progress on that. The service is environmentally friendly and provides employment opportunities. It makes the city more accessible and attractive to those from outside the greater Belfast area, ensuring that people from all over Northern Ireland can enjoy all that Belfast has to offer. Developing that market requires consistency, dependability and building habits. Therefore, in my view, what is needed today is a commitment to providing year-round services rather than simply over four weekends. Offering a standard fare on those services as well as accepting concessionary fares, which have been built into Translink's business case, is also an important step towards removing barriers and rewarding repeat travel. As I said, I am delighted that that business case has been produced. The cost of £600,000 to provide year-round night-time public transport and support the most important sector of the night-time economy in our capital city is not much to ask for out of an annual Budget for this place of £18·6 billion. We have the opportunity to remove barriers, to invest in the city that, I believe, all representatives in the Chamber love and to support and grow an industry that, for many years and in the darkest times, invested in the city when others would not. I congratulate the Minister again on taking up her post. On her first time answering a debate in the Assembly in her new role, I urge her to recognise how vital the night-time economy is, particularly in the capital city, which is the driver of economic and cultural growth. Belfast is unrecognisable from the city that I grew up in and is being transformed daily. Now, however, we have the opportunity to step forward to support the most vulnerable and those who pioneered the growth of our economy and to step forward with a settlement that supports the continued growth of Belfast and the wider region. I thank Members for attending the debate this afternoon.

1,674 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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