Sam GreenwoodNorthern Ireland’s nightlife has been held back for too long by an outdated licensing system that fails to reflect the realities of modern culture after dark.
From artists and promoters to venues and audiences, the limitations are felt across every corner of the scene.
Now, the Free The Night campaign is calling for urgent change. An open letter has been issued to Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, demanding immediate reform of the region’s licensing laws.
The campaign argues that without progress, Northern Ireland risks falling further behind, losing talent, cultural energy, and economic opportunity to cities that better support nightlife.
The open letter marks a unified push from the industry to be heard.
So far, nearly 700 people have signed the letter, including prominent figures from Northern Ireland’s electronic music scene such as David Holmes, Max Cooper, Or:la, Cormac, Cromby, Jordan Nocturne, Bicep, and Kessler to name but a few.
Here are 6 Free The Night’s demand
1. Reform or abolish the surrender principle
2. Fix the occasional licensing system
3. Create a new licence category for cultural spaces
4. Modernise opening hours
5. Remove anti-competitive objection routes
6. Publish the evidence used to reject the independent review
SIGN THE OPEN LETTER HERE.
