- Late-night bar and nightclub openings continue to decline
- 950 fewer extended nights nationwide in 2025
- Extended late-night operations dropped nearly 23pc since 2018
- Dublin lost 336 late nights in 2025
- LVA lobbying to reduce SEO cost to €100 per night
Late-night openings in Irish bars and nightclubs continue to face a steep decline with venues operating 950 fewer extended nights nationwide in 2025 compared to 2024. Data published by the Licensed Vintners Association highlights a worsening situation for Ireland’s nightlife driven by high licensing costs and inflation. Extended late-night operations have dropped nearly 23pc since 2018.
The figures show 37,597 openings in 2018, 35,942 in 2022, 34,064 in 2023, 31,601 in 2024 and 30,651 in 2025. Dublin lost 336 late nights in 2025 alone falling to a total of 12,726 extended openings. To serve alcohol past standard trading hours until 1:30 AM weekdays or 2:30 AM on weekends Irish venues must apply to the courts for a Special Exemption Order for every single night with a court fee of €150 and a government excise tax of €55.
For an ordinary venue operating three late nights a week these upfront costs accumulate to just under €32,000 annually before legal fees are factored in. LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keeffe has noted that stalled Government legislation specifically the delayed Sale of Alcohol Bill is worsening the gridlock. Ahead of Budget 2027 the LVA is lobbying the government to slash the mandatory SEO cost down to €100 per night.
