ROJO nightclub has announced it is closing, saying that “everything is stacked against having a vibrant night-time industry” in Jersey.
The club, which spent eight years on Bond Street before moving to Beresford Street 11 years ago, will shut in the new year.
In a strongly worded statement on its Facebook page, the club cited the downturn in trade post-pandemic, the rise in the cost of alcohol and an “outdated licensing law” as the reasons for its closure.
“There is no single reason for closing rather a coming together of several factors predominantly driven by a general downturn in numbers across town since the end of the pandemic, the ever increasing cost of alcohol as well as the cost of living making regular nights out a thing of the past,” it said.
“We have an outdated licensing law that reflects the conservative and risk averse culture of the Island. Basically everything is stacked against having a vibrant night-time industry. Most young people choose to save their money and go away for a weekend to destinations in the UK and Europe where there is so much on offer and who can blame them. Young people also pre-drink before coming into town as it’s simply too expensive to buy a drink. That is the young people that are still here – so many are leaving.
“We gave it our best shot but at some point you have to hold your hands up and say you’re losing the battle. It’s time to do something that involves less hours and from which you can make a living which is no longer the nightclub industry, at least not in Jersey. It will be a real shame to see the venue go. It’s been a cornerstone of Jersey clubbing for decades. Hopefully someone new will pick up the baton and run with it for the foreseeable future. If not it will sadly be another great venue lost.
“We have so many people and customers to thank who have supported Rojo over the last 19 years, not least those who so kindly donated to our crowd funder during the pandemic which allowed us to continue for another few years. But more of that later. The story isn’t quite over but we’re in the final chapter. We’ll announce official closing dates in the new year.”
