Lack of bouncers slams the doors on Britons’ big nights out

theguardian.com:

After the tumult of the past two and a half years, the hospitality sector had been hoping for a bumper 2022 to recoup its pandemic losses. But while businesses have seen a surge in customers seeking to spend their lockdown savings, the twin pressures of staff shortages and rising costs are now forcing many clubs, restaurants, pubs and hotels to turn people away and close their doors midweek.

Bouncers are one role in particularly short supply. Three-quarters of clubs, pubs and bars said they were short of security staff, with some closing earlier or shutting entirely on Tuesdays or Wednesdays as well as Mondays, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Job postings for security staff have surged by 59% since February 2020, just before the pandemic kicked off – well ahead of the 45% overall increase in ads for all roles, according to the work search site Indeed. However, interest in such positions has fallen by 8% despite a 5.1% year-on-year increase in pay.

The figures suggest the shortages that began during the pandemic are still a problem across the industry as high employment gives jobseekers an abundance of choice.

Aaron Mellor, the boss of Tokyo Industries, which runs 47 bars and clubs in the north of England, said a number of his venues were now operating one or two fewer nights a week and moving the time of last entry earlier because of a mix of higher costs and a shortage of experienced and qualified door staff. “We’ve reduced midweek nights to compress trade,” he said. “It’s not just about staff, it’s about utilities and everything else.”

He said that making last entry earlier meant experienced staff could be redeployed inside the venue, although the shift to club-goers buying tickets in advance