Night fever grips Shrewsbury

The town has seen bars and restaurants pop up all over the area in recent years and now they look set to open for longer as demand grows.

While the benefits of a strong night-time economy have divided opinion, the town looks set to be one of the most popular places in the Midlands to visit at night.

Grant Lees, operations director for The Buttermarket – Shropshire's largest entertainment venue – said it was an important step for the town.

"Certainly in the past five years there has been a massive boost," he said. "I think it has outdone places like Telford and surrounding areas.

"Speaking from our experience at our venues – The Buttermarket, C:21, Spirit and The Peach Tree – we see that when security check ID we have visitors coming from far and wide – Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Telford. Over the last five years it has really become the destination."

The Old Market Hall: Built in 1596, the Old Market Hall was originally named the Market Hall or Market House.

In 2004 the building underwent a £1.7 million restoration, having been previously restored in 1904.

Now, the listed building houses a cinema and cafe bar and screens films from all around the world each day.

Guest speakers take part in the digital media programme and the cinema also hosts screenings of National Theatre Live production.

C:21: One of Shrewsbury's most popular nightclubs, C:21 was awarded the gold award as Best Overall Venue in Shropshire and also Best Nightclub in Shropshire in the 2011 Best Bar None Awards.

The independent club hosts special events and a monthly night dedicated to gay, lesbian and trans guests along with live performances and cabarets.

Theatre Severn: Sat on the River Severn, the theatre regularly hosts international stars including comedians, dancers and musicians.

The theatre's ticket sales for the year ending March 2015 totalled 159,936. The venue has welcomed names including the Birmingham Royal Ballet, TV comedian Greg Davies, and comedian Jenny Éclair.

The Buttermarket: The entertainment venue has recently undergone a £2million refurbishment and is one of Shropshire's biggest nightclubs.

It boasts Europe's biggest light and laser show alongside the famous Wurlitzer organ.

Henry Tudor House / The Bull Inn: Henry Tudor House – built in the early 1400s – has received the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence and regularly holds live music from local musicians and up-and-coming comics.

The Bull Inn offers accommodation, food and drink right in the centre with live music and open mic nights.

In 2014, the Southwater development opened in Telford bringing bars, restaurants and a cinema in a bid to "kick start" the town's night-time economy. The development is still expecting to see more businesses open until the end of the year, so Shrewsbury has been forced to find new ways to compete.

Craig Reeves, marketing manager at Theatre Severn and the Old Market Hall – which are operated and owned by Shropshire Council – said when one venue opens, it allows other businesses to follow suit.

"Our venues bring in a quarter of a million people into Shrewsbury town centre annually, and the vast majority of those are in the evening," he said. "And since they have opened it has been no surprise to see more bars and restaurants open offering pre-show menus and offers.

"So we have really seen that one venue opening can bring business to others. It's been clear with the regeneration of Frankwell area – since the theatre opened it is a much more vibrant area.

"A third of our audience comes from outside the town – from Telford, Mid Wales, Cheshire and other areas.

"That is about 50,000 people each year brought into Shrewsbury so it clearly gives people a reason to visit."

While the need for a night-time economy in Shrewsbury has not been disputed, some councillors are at loggerheads over how much the town should embrace the apparent boom.

After a recent visit from Purple Flag assessors – who recognise standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy – some celebrated positive feedback while others called for a balance.

Miles Kenny, Shrewsbury mayor, said having accreditation would be a "shining beacon". But Councillor Andrew Bannerman has said he is often hears complaints about the aftermath of late-night drinking.

With a host of things to do and see in Shrewsbury, most residents have their favourite spots and places to go.

Preslav Petrov, 23, of St Michael's Street, said he finds more than enough to do in the town.

He said: "I really like the people in the town, and I am from Bulgaria but Shrewsbury reminds me of where I used to live.

"In the evenings, my Spanish girlfriend and I go to the Spanish restaurants in town, and everything is always very nice there.

"And for the clubs we go to the Buttermarket and C:21. There is a lot to do in the evenings.

John Smith, 21, has recently moved to the area and now lives on Castle Street. Mr Smith said that while he finds plenty of places to visit, there is a gap in the market.

He said: "I've lived here for a few months now and we go out for a drink in the evenings, to the bars mainly.

"We have been going to The Libertine on Butcher's Row and the Blind Tiger. It would be good to have a decent club in the town. There isn't much for people in their 20s."

And it seems some people feel there is not enough to bring them into the town for an evening.

Stephanie Fairhurst, 43, lives in Wrexham and said she mainly comes to the town during the day.

She said: "I do really like the town, but we come in the day for the shops and the little rows and the buildings.

"We love going to Jack's Bistro – but that is a day-time thing, really.

"I'm not that close to come just for a night, I travel to the outskirts of Wrexham if I want to do something in the evening."

Another newcomer to the town is 63-year-old Linda Neve.

She said: "I am liking it, it is a nice place to live. We have gone to The Armoury for drinks, that was a nice place and we have also been to a few other places so far.

"I think it is a good place for the evening if you like eating and drinking.

But according to Mr Lees, who is also chair of Safer Shrewsbury Pubwatch, there are measures in place to control the issue. He said: "It is about control and working together. All our members of Safer Shrewsbury Pubwatch have a great working partnership with the police and the council."

One of the issues dividing opinion is applications from bars and pubs to stay open longer. In December, the town council said it will call on Shropshire Council to restrict new drinking licences or renewals to 2am.

However, the Source Bar in Barker Street was given permission to open Shropshire's only lap dancing club for three days a week. The bar has applied to allow drinking until 4am from Wednesday to Saturday. Bonds, a nightclub, has applied to extend its alcohol serving hours to 4am from Monday to Saturday.

Mr Lees said: