Evening economy
An example of evening economic activity - a restaurant in Greece.
Prague has a strong evening economy. Shown here are the Christmas markets after dark.
In planning, the evening economy describes economic activity taking place in the evening after many people finish daytime employment,[1][2] such as eating and drinking, entertainment, and nightlife (which may be described by the related term nighttime economy.
Activities
The evening economy includes, but is not limited to:
- Eating out - restaurants, cafes, takeaways
- Drinking - pubs and bars
- Culture and entertainment - theatres, cinemas, live music and comedy events, ten pin bowling, ice skating
- Sport - spectator sports including football, rugby and greyhound racing often take place in the evening.
Benefits and drawbacks
The benefits of a significant evening economy can include:
- Recreation for people, which is often welcome after finishing work for the day
- Increased employment due to local spending
- Reduced social exclusion and increased vitality in towns
The drawbacks can include:
- Noise pollution
- Crime and/or anti-social behaviour, particularly where alcohol is involved
- Traffic congestion
Regeneration
Evening economic activity has been used to drive urban regeneration in cities such as Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Dublin.