Club and late bar scene shows continued decline, as sector feels costs pressureAcross Ireland, late bars and nightclubs operated a combined 30,651 extended nights in 2025, compared to 31,601 during 2024 Wed, 16 Sep, 2026 – 00:10Martin Claffey
The number of late-night openings by nightclubs and late bars in Ireland continues to tumble, with 950 fewer late nights sending alarm bells from Ireland’s nighttime economy.
And the group representing the licensed trade has called for the Government to reduce fees to receive a late night licence to halt the sector’s continuing decline.
New figures published by the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) on Wednesday show that across Ireland, late bars and nightclubs operated a combined 30,651 extended nights in 2025, compared to 31,601 during 2024. It is part of a larger decline: there were almost 23% more late-night openings in 2018, with 37,597 nights across the country.
“The number of late bars and nightclubs providing late-night socialising continues to plunge in Ireland,” said LVA chief executive Donall O’Keeffe.
“The figures clearly show the extent of the problem. Around the country, there were almost 1,000 fewer late nights last year than there were available the year before. Going back two years, there were almost 3,500 more late night openings provided by the country’s late bars and nightclubs.”
The level of late-night openings for late bars and nightclubs is shown by the number of Special Exemption Orders (SEOs) issued by the Courts.
If a late bar or nightclub wishes to extend their licensing beyond regular licensing hours, they must seek a SEO from the Courts for each extended night. The SEO enables the late bar or nightclub to operate for an additional two hours on the specific night in question, which means they can serve up to 1.30am on Monday to Thursday, or up to 2.30am on Friday and Saturday. Sunday closing with a SEO in place is fixed for 1am.
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Following the trading restrictions of the pandemic, there was a rise post-covid in SEO late night openings to 35,942 in 2022, which meant 1,081 more nights than the pre-pandemic figure in 2019. But late-night openings have declined in each subsequent year, dropping to 34,064 in 2023; 31,601 in 2024, and 30,651 in 2025.
The LVA says late bars and nightclubs must pay an additional €205 for each individual night they seek an SEO, made up of €150 in court fees and €55 in excise.
“These late-night options are declining year on year. A significant factor behind that is the extremely high cost of doing business,” said Mr O’Keeffe. “That in turn is driven by the cost associated with securing a SEO to keep doors open late. If a late bar or nightclub wants to extend its hours for three nights a week, they have to pay out an additional €32,000 across the year, plus legal fees. This is an unnecessary expense which is primarily imposed by the Government.”
The LVA is calling on the Government to limit the cost of SEOs to €100 per night in Budget 2027.
“We are asking the Government to be realistic and to limit the costs involved. Late bars and nightclubs should not have to pay more than €100 per night for a SEO to be put in place. After all, the entire late night opening process is meant to become much simpler, once the missing in action Sale of Alcohol Bill is put in place. With that legislation continuing to be put on the long finger by the Government, the least they can do is reduce some of the red tape costs they themselves are imposing,” said Mr O’Keeffe.
“Cutting the cost of SEOs is a relatively low expense for Government, estimated at €3.2m annually. It is also a simple measure that can be immediately adopted on Budget night to assist the viability of late opening by late bars and nightclubs. As the numbers show, if something isn’t done the number of late openings will diminish even more, further damaging the vibrancy of the late-night economy and reducing options for our customers.”
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