Back To The Dance Floor: Madrid ‘s Nightlife Set To Stay Open Till 3am
Madrid’s nightlife sector has warmly welcomed the announcement that nightclubs will be allowed to stay open until 3am from June 21st.
The longer hours opening date comes just in time for the festivities of San Juan – the longest night of the year, on the 23rd June.
The announcement came after a meeting held yesterday, Monday 14th June, between the Madrid regional health authorities and the two Madrid nightlife business groups – Noche Madrid and La Noche en Vivo.
Both have seen their sector struggle with restrictions on opening times and capacity which has led to accumulated losses of around 2 billion Euros in earnings since the start of the pandemic.
In addition, many clubs have been forced to close or been offered for sale such as Madrid’s iconic Joy Eslava.
Some 9,000 jobs have disappeared and a further 20,000 workers are on the government’s ERTE furlough scheme.
The easing of restrictions will allow the present midnight closing to be extended for nightclubs, late night bars and discos, until 3am.
Normal bars and restaurants will still maintain the midnight closing time.
Discos will also be able to open dance floors – in outdoor venues only, for the time being.
It is hoped that this is the first stage to a return to full normality by August when the target of 70% of the population vaccinated will have been reached, which is the threshold for herd immunity.
