Birmingham to host major international night time economy summit in 2025

- Night Time Industries Association announce next year’s Night Time Economy Summit will take place at leading city NTE venue Hockley Social Club

- Event partners include ACS, Defected Records , EarthPercent , GigPig , Hospital Records Limited , Institute of Hospitality , shesaid.so , Skiddle , Vibelab , West Midlands Combined Authority

- West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to host a mayoral panel with counterparts to discuss challenges facing NTE across multiple UK regions

- NTE leaders from across the globe will join UK professionals to expand and develop the cultural footprint of the UK’s fifth-largest industry

- Host city-region is famed for its contribution to bhangra, metal, and techno; boasts nine Michelin stars, and supports over 200,000 NTE jobs

The leading industry body for the UK’s night time economy has announced the fifth international Night Time Economy Summit (NTES) will take place in Birmingham on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February 2025.

Up to 4,000 attendees from across arts, culture, hospitality, media, music, NTE, and politics are expected to attend the major event organised by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) at leading city venue Hockley Social Club, including representatives from across Europe, Japan, the U.S., Canada, South America, and Australia.

The summit, delivered in partnership with ACS, Defected, Earth Percent, GigPig, Hospital Records, Institute of Hospitality, She.Said.So, Skiddle, VibeLab, and West Midlands Combined Authority amongst others, will explore key themes including queer spaces, sustainability, place making, well-being, security, live and electronic music.

Hockley Social Club, the Birmingham venue which will welcome international delegates for the Night Time Economy Summit in February 2025, has seen over 70,000 people pass through its doors in the first half of 2024, serving 23,000 meals and pulling 160,000 pints - 33,000 of which were beer produced by local breweries. 

The 10,000-square foot venue supports around 100 local jobs, works with 15 Midlands suppliers including cleaning, electricians, IT, and security companies, and operates with 14 Midlands bands and 40 DJs on rotation.

Jack Brabant , co-founder and director of Hockley Social Club, said: “We’re proud to be a long-term supporter of the NTIA and its work to protect and develop our industry.

“Bringing the summit to Birmingham gives us, and so many of our colleagues from across the UK and internationallly, the opportunity to showcase our own venue offering, and the work of our partners who help to make this city and region amongst the best in the world.

“After years of developing NTE here, it feels like the perfect time to both host this key global event, celebrate our collective achievements, and plan together for the future.”

Hockley Social Club's commitment to offering accessible and diverse cultural experiences, presenting performances spanning ballet, comedy, and live podcasts, alongside classical, hip-hop, electronic, reggae, and soul shows and DJ sets, sits along an award-winning street food offer and community engagement.

Drawing on the experience of delivering thousands of events in Birmingham and across the Midlands over 12 years via the acclaimed Digbeth Dining Club brand, the team of dedicated food, culture, drink, and hospitality professionals are now based at their permanent home in the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

The host region of the West Midlands is renowned for its role in shaping bhangra; grindcore and metal; punk and rock; reggae and ska; retrofuturism; techno, jungle, and drum and bass, generates tens of millions in music tourism annually, boasts nine Michelin stars and supports over 200,000 jobs in hospitality and NTE.

Lyle Bignon, Night Time Economy Ambassador for Birmingham working on behalf of the NTIA, said: “The role of Birmingham and the West Midlands in the UK’s arts, culture, hospitality, music, and NTE offer - both to domestic and international markets - has long been underplayed.

“In recent years, the self-deprecating Birmingham character has given way to a new-found civic and cultural pride across our region, driven by creativity, community and innovation.

“Nowhere is this more evident than in our Night Time Economy, home to some of the most exciting and pioneering businesses and leaders in Europe.

“We look forward to welcoming professionals from across the world to our city, and showing off the people and places who make the West Midlands a truly dynamic NTE destination.”

The full programme for the Night Time Economy Summit and venue will be released over the coming months, with speakers and panellists approaching a huge range of topics from politics, business, new government, comedy, diversity, harm reduction, drug testing, electronic and live music, safeguarding, women's safety, health, well-being, access to funding, grassroots music, peacemaking, events and festivals, security, cinema, gambling, licensing and planning, supply chain energy, cost of living crisis, reports, research, technology, mental health, and more.

Michael Kill , CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: "We are excited to reveal that next year’s summit promises to be one of our most diverse events yet, with dynamic insights that will resonate throughout the industry. This gathering will unite influential voices to discuss a variety of important topics, addressing both long-term objectives and immediate challenges."

"What truly sets this event apart is its commitment to accessibility, ensuring that everyone can take part. It’s about fostering knowledge and expanding networks while providing attendees the chance to assess the current state of the industry. This will enable us to reflect, debate, and exchange ideas and best practices aimed at creating a safer and more successful night-time economy for the future."

The Night Time Economy Summit 2025 will take place at Hockley Social Club in Birmingham between Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February 2025.

Registration via https://nighttimeeconomysummit.com