City debates value of night time economy

Book a free place at the Big Debate here

“At night, the streets of Brighton become awash with alcohol-crazed hen and stag parties, clubbers and general yobbery, noisily rendering the late-night and early-morning city centre almost a no-go area for those who don’t want to join their revelry, and thereby damaging the city’s image.” That’s a point of view being heard increasingly often in Brighton and Hove. But so is the viewpoint that Brighton is the country’s seaside party capital, fun is in its blood and its night time festivity is core to the city’s image, reputation, culture and income.

On the evening of Wednesday September 26th, the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce will be holding the next in its series of Big Debates: “This house believes that Brighton’s night time economy is tarnishing the city’s brand”. Proposing the motion will be Andy Winter, chief executive of Brighton Housing Trust, and Justin Manning, general manager of Queen's Hotel. Opposing the motion and defending the night-time culture against the charge of brand tarnishing will be Nigel Liddell, manager of the Brighton & Hove Business Crime Reduction Partnership, and Ian Chisnall, coordinator of Brighton & Hove Street Pastors and an independent electoral candidate for post of Police and Crime Commissioner.

The business-oriented debate will take a traditional format of panel speeches for and against the motion, followed by speeches and contributions from the floor. Voting at the beginning and end will show how much the debate has swayed people’s feelings ... though, in a typically Brightonian way, the voting process will be anything but traditional. For anyone who hasn’t been before, all will become clear at the event.

The debate will be chaired by local business owner Rob Shepherd, of the press release agency Press Dispensary, who said: “Some feel that debating our night-time economy is a taboo that needs to be broken. As citizens, we are perhaps all troubled from time to time when we see so many gaggles of hens zigzagging across town at night, hear the dawn aftermath of 24 hour bar culture and then read of the clean-up bills and other repercussions. But don’t we also treat the revellers’ money as our city’s golden egg, to be preserved no matter what?

“On the other hand, how much of this money really stays in the city? And how do short-term gains stack up against our long-term reputation as a business and tourist destination? Or isn’t this revelry and night-time tourism already our reputation? Isn’t this is what the city sells its visitors? And is any fuss about the negative effects just over-hyped or over-conservative?”

Julia Chanteray, president of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce and owner of consultancy The Joy of Business, said: “I think this will be one of the most fascinating Big Debates we’ve held so far. It goes right to the heart of our city’s make-up, what sort of place we want to live and work in and what we think is really good for business. The arguments for and against the night-time economy’s effect on our brand will be heartfelt and fascinating.”

“This house believes that Brighton’s night time economy is tarnishing the city’s brand” is sponsored by solutions inc and the media partner is The Argus.

Doors open at City College, Pelham Street, Brighton, at 6pm on Wednesday September 26, 2012. The debate itself runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Entry is FREE and there will be a paid bar available. Tickets, which are going rapidly, may be booked at no charge online at http://www.businessinbrighton.org.uk/event/the-big-debate-night-time-economyor by calling 01273 719097. Non-Chamber members are welcome as well.

The debate can start any time on Twitter and will be tweeted under the hashtag #bigdb8

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk