NTIA Scotland launches its Northern Lights Manifesto at Holyrood, urging the Scottish Government to take urgent action to protect and empower Scotland’s night time economy.
NTIA Scotland today 27 October 2025 launches its landmark “Northern Lights” Manifesto at Holyrood, hosted by Pauline McNeill MSP, calling for a Minister for the Night Time Economy, urgent business rates relief, and a national strategy to secure the future of Scotland’s nightlife and cultural venues.
The manifesto, a comprehensive roadmap for reform, comes as the night time economy continues to face record levels of closures, rising costs, and over three years of limited government support. The event marks the start of a national conversation to integrate the night time economy into Scotland’s wider economic and cultural strategy, ahead of the Scottish Budget in January 2026.
Key Asks from the Northern Lights Manifesto
● Create a National Night Time Economy Strategy (NITES) — aligning planning, licensing, transport, tourism, and cultural policy.
● Appoint a dedicated Minister for the Night Time Economy to represent the sector at Cabinet level and ensure policy coherence across government.
● Deliver 40% business rates relief for all hospitality and late-night businesses and 100% relief for cultural venues, removing the £51k cap.
● Introduce a statutory duty for local authorities to produce local night time strategies aligned with the national framework.
● Establish local Offices for Nightlife across Scotland to coordinate best practice, safety, and late-night transport improvements.
● Protect Scotland’s cultural venues through planning reform, a new National Cultural Venues Fund, and recognition of venues as heritage assets.
● Invest in workforce development and safety, including training for Licensing Board members, and continued professional development for night time workers.
● Pilot national safety schemes including street ambassadors and drug testing facilities to reduce harm and improve wellbeing after dark.
● Reduce VAT for hospitality to 12.5%, to support post-crisis recovery and job retention, whilst working towards ensuring tax parity across the UK nations.
Mike Grieve, Chair of NTIA Scotland, said: “Scotland’s night time economy is one of our greatest cultural assets — a source of creativity, community, and economic strength, but it has been overlooked for too long. Northern Lights is our roadmap for recovery and renewal. We need a clear national strategy with a dedicated minister representing the sector at cabinet level, and immediate comprehensive rates relief to safeguard Scotland’s nightlife for generations to come.”
Pauline McNeill MSP, who hosted the Holyrood launch, added: “Scotland’s night-time economy is vital to our culture and local jobs, especially here in Glasgow. The sector has faced enormous challenges, and it’s important that policymakers hear directly from those working in it. I’d encourage all MSPs with night-time industries in their constituencies to come along to the drop-in and listen to the experiences and ideas being shared.”
The Northern Lights Manifesto outlines over 30 detailed recommendations from governance and licensing reform to sustainability, inclusion, and cultural protection, to rebuild trust, drive collaboration, and make Scotland a global leader in night time policy.
Link to manifesto: https://ntia.co.uk/northern-lights-manifesto-scotland-night-time-economy-2025/
With the upcoming UK Budget approaching, NTIA Scotland is calling for cross-party unity to restore support that has been absent for more than three years and ensure that Scotland’s nightlife continues to shine brightly.
