A new Liverpool-based student events company has launched with a mission to revitalise the city’s student nightlife scene, which has started to decline in recent years.
Townside Studios aims to reverse the trend that has seen venues close as more young people party at home due to rising costs and safety fears.
According to 2025 data from an Observant survey for the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) and the Q2 2025 Night-Time Economy Market Monitor, 61% of young people across the UK are going out less frequently, while the number of late-night venues has fallen by 26.4% since March 2020.
The impact has been especially severe in Liverpool, where an NTIA report from January 2025 showed the city has lost 31.3% of its nightclubs between March 2020 and late 2024 – an especially heavy blow for a place long regarded as one of the UK’s iconic “party cities.”
This reduction has been linked to several factors including rising costs, tighter student budgets, post-Covid venue closures, safety concerns, and the growing preference for house parties.
Emma O’Connor, a postgraduate teaching student, said: “House parties are easier – no stress about getting dressed up, I can listen to the music I want and actually sit and chat with my friends.”
Townside was created in response to this shift, aiming to bring the relaxed, social feel of house parties into actual venues – but on a larger, more inclusive scale.
The founders say the idea emerged after they hosted a house party themselves and realised it was far more enjoyable than a typical night out.
Mohammed Yusif, co-founder of Townside Studios said: “People want something different when they go out, not repetitive weekly events.
“If we focus on making the experience fun, trying new venues, theme nights and keeping customers happy, we think it’ll encourage students to go out again.”
Part of this “different experience” includes using student DJs, giving young talent a chance to develop skills, gain exposure, and build a name for themselves.
Because they are students too, the DJs understand exactly what other students want to hear – with rooms dedicated to different genres to suit all tastes.
Mohammed continued: “Being university age and still in the thick of it, gives us the upper hand over other events companies, helping us to bring fresh news ideas to make the club scene exciting again.”
Recent event attendee Ray Chapman said: “Some of the nights feel more like a rave than a typical club scene, which I prefer – and I think a lot of other young people do too.
“Their events always feature different themes, including dress-up nights, which make the whole experience even more fun.”
Liverpool is highly renowned for its vibrant nightlife, and Townside aims to play a part in preserving that reputation.
Acknowledging that affordability is a key reason many students are going out less, they keep ticket prices low – starting at just £4.50 – to ensure events stay accessible.
Safety is also a main priority for the organisers. Aware of the concerns many female students face on nights out, Townside have introduced practical measures such as offering drink covers to reduce the risk of spiking and encouraging groups – especially women – to head home together.
They do this with the aim of removing one more barrier that might otherwise makes female students choose to stay in rather than go out.
Townside Studios hopes that by reshaping the club experience to match what students actually want – affordability, safety, variety, and a house-party atmosphere – they can bring new life to Liverpool’s declining nightlife scene.
For more on this story, listen here:
Music by Oleksandr Savochka from Pixabay, used in package, copyright free.
@merseynewslive After a decline in Liverpool’s student nightlife, events company Townside Studios are trying to bring a fresh perspective to the clubbing scene to get students back out. #clubbing #liverpooluni
