Changing times and the TOWIE effect - Essex's nightclub industry faces up to the future
It's hard times for the nightclub business across the country, facing off against late-opening bars and increasingly discounted supermarket booze, against a backdrop of general economic gloom.
Despite the much publicised "Towie effect" the curtain came down on several stalwarts of the Essex nightclub scene in the last year.
But those that remain say that by upping their game and identifying the changing demographic of the club customer, there is a healthy future ahead.
Peter Stimpson, PR manager for Chelmsford's Candy club, said: "We are doing very well at the moment, and I suppose we are bucking the trend.
"We have a lot of regular customers and are attracting new ones all the time.
"There is not one thing general, it is a number of things - you put them all into the melting pot and it means we can give people what they want from a night out.
"We have spent a lot of time visiting other nightclubs around the world and we have been to some of the best, so we know how they should feel.
"And from what we hear from our customers, we are generally getting it right."
Nightclubs across the country saw a large drop in visitor numbers following the relaxing of opening hours for bars and clubs in 2005, and the introduction of the smoking ban in 2007.
Customer numbers were expected to rise again over time as a different clientele became attracted to the venues, but the economic downturn, which most keenly affected the core age group of 18 to 24-year-olds, scuppered those hopes.
And late last year, industry giant Luminar, which operated 74 clubs across the country, including Basildon and Colchester's Liquid clubs, went into administration putting 7,000 jobs at risk.
Although buyers have been found for many of their venues, including Colchester's Liquid (formerly known for decades as The Hippodrome) managers are talking of diversifying the venues' offerings in order to attract older and more affluent clients.
Comedy and cabaret nights are becoming more popular, with "all-you-can-drink" booze-athons (generally attracting the younger crowds) becoming less popular - and in some cases,due to changes in legislation designed to combat binge-drinking - illegal.
Mr Stimpson said: "If you take care and put attention to detail into what you are doing, it shows - we try to give the customer an experience they will love.
"It is about getting the details right - the door policy, bar staff, the way the club feels, the website, customer service - absolutely everything.
"Obviously you need a bit of luck as well!"
The TOWIE effect - which has seen huge publicity boosts for the county's clubs, bars and restaurants and led to a surge in visitors keen to experience the county's celebrated nightlife, has without a doubt been a lifeline for many.
However there has been some criticism that the gains are mainly monopolised on by a small group of business owners who have been involved with the show since it started in 2010.
In January, Chelmsford's Dukes Genesis club closed for the last time, with owner Lou Manzi saying: "All things change and we live in a different culture now.
"When Tony Blair brought in 24-hour licensing it was a death knell for the larger clubs, and the smoking ban had an impact on the business too.
"When I first started there was no such thing as people going out to a supermarket to buy a couple of cases of Budweiser or Sol and taking them home to get boozed up before going out that night. That sort of thing didn't happen.
"I am not moaning or knocking it. I just think the culture has changed dramatically. I think the days of the very big nightclubs are over."
Early in 2011 , Copford's Escape nightclub, formerly known as Kings, also shut, after decades of entertaining Essex revellers.
And two of the county's biggest clubs - Colchester and Basildon's Liquid venues - narrowly escaped closure when parent company Luminar went into administration in October, with debts of £140 million.
Luckily both were saved - for the time being - thanks to a buyout put together by a team of senior nightclub industry management figures.
The Candy Club reports booming business and attracts clientele from far and wide for its regular Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, as well as under-18s nights.
Basildon's Liquid nightclub is one of the largest in the country and was recently saved from closure when parent company Luminar went into administration.
Probably Essex's most famous nightclub at the moment, due to featuring heavily in ITV2's The Only Way Is Essex
Scorch, Bishops Stortford (and launching soon in Chelmsford)
The owners of this Bishops Stortford nightspot are expanding the Scorch brand into Chelmsford in the near future, when they have finished converting the former Chancellor Hall into an upmarket venue.
One of Southend's biggest nightclubs and still attracting large numbers of revellers, following a refurbishment in 2009.
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