Brighton MP says business at Club Revenge hit by Covid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle told MPs that numbers at Club Revenge had dropped by 60 per cent due to the strain of coronavirus.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said how he likes to frequent the club on Brighton seafront - and raised concerns about the impact of Covid on business.

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The Labour MP for Kemp Town went on to ask the government to guarantee support for nightclubs and businesses struggling due to restrictions.

He said: “My nightclub in Brighton, Revenge – not mine personally, but I do like to frequent it – the problem is 60 percent of its patronage has gone down with the latest variant.

“It is really struggling but it has been told it is not eligible for the latest round of grants because it has received previous grants and the recovery grant.

“This is a real problem for our night-time economy and for many businesses. Can the minister confirm to me that any night-time economy or hospitality sector is eligible for the latest round of grants that the minister has released?”

Club Revenge in Kemp Town, Brighton

Business Minister Paul Scully said nightclubs are eligible for the £100 million discretionary grants via councils.

Liberal Democrat Munira Wilson, in a nod to Downing Street party allegations, said: “While the night-time economy has clearly been thriving in Whitehall, especially at the height of lockdown, unfortunately for bars, clubs and pubs across the rest of London many are struggling to stay afloat and many of them employ my constituents.”

In response to calls for further financial support, Mr Scully replied: “The business rates relief and VAT relief continue at the moment, but the grants that the Chancellor has offered equate to the grants that we were offering before when those same businesses were mandated to close in recognition of the chilling effect.

“Clearly we will continue to work with the hospitality sector – they want to stay open, they want actually to trade normally – that’s why we’re learning to live with Covid, when in contrast, with say, for example, Labour-run Wales, where the hospitality sector has remained hampered with further restriction.”

During the debate, Shadow Business Minister Bill Esterson held up a pack of Chinese-made lateral flow Covid tests, telling MPs: “Buying British is a great way for the Government to boost productivity.

“So why are they buying so many Covid tests from China, many of which only have temporary MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) approval and are now banned in the United States?

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said the UK has “led the world” in life sciences and manufacturing, but failed to answer the questions put to him.

Conservative MP Richard Fuller said the outcomes of the coronavirus test device approval process have had a “chilling effect” on UK manufacturers, and called for a review.

Club Revenge in Old Steine, Kemp Town, recently celebrated its 30th birthday.

Earlier this week, the LGBTQ+ nightclub paid tribute to a "beautiful" and "deeply loved" member of staff who died.

The venue said Blair Envy had made a “huge impact to the team” since she started working for the club in May.

A spokesman described her as someone who “radiated positivity for anyone that met her”.

A fundraiser set up by the club in Blair’s memory raised more than £4,700 in just two days.

All the money raised will to the Clare Project, a transgender support and social group based in Brighton.