A number of local nightclubs have recorded a steady decline in their usual club patron numbers, since clubs are only allowed to operate as pubs. This follows the commencement of level 1 lockdown, last month.
“At the moment, it is not profitable to be open,” said Gian Brink, owner of Catwalk, a nightclub in Stellenbosch. Catwalk has been open since 2 October, Brink said.
In addition, no DJs are allowed to perform and clubs can only operate at 50% capacity, explained Brink.
“As we may now only take 50% of our capacity and our dance floor is closed, we’ve experienced a steady decline of patrons since opening,” said Charlie Niemand, owner of Nu’Bar, another Stellenbosch nightclub that has also been open since on 2 October.
According to Niemand, Covid-19 measures also require patrons to supply their details upon arrival at the premises and follow the “no mask, no entry protocol”. Many clubs have also replaced the dance floors with more seated areas, to encourage social distancing, said Will Bruce, manager at Tin Roof in Stellenbosch. Bruce’s club opened mid-September.
“[As] we can’t trade with the dance floor, we have put tables on the dance floor instead of completely sealing it off,” he said.
According to Bruce, nightclubs have also been impacted by the lack of students in town.
“We were largely student-based and with the limited amount of students that are here, [it] has affected business,” said Bruce.
Consequently, many nightclubs in Stellenbosch are only operating on Fridays and Saturdays, with Catwalk also being open on Wednesday’s, Brink said.
“We really need the economy to open and we hope to survive for the sake of the people working here and the culture of Stellenbosch,” said Brink.