ABSTRACT
Economic and political restructuring over the last three decades has wrought many changes on the cities we live, work and play in, and has had a profound effect on young adults’ consumption habits. One change has been the development of a new ‘urban entertainment brand’ which has reshaped many parts of city landscapes into corporate nightlife and leisure hubs (Gottdiener, 2001; Klein, 2000; Hannigan, 1998), characterised by the ritual descent of young adults into city-centre bars, pubs and clubs especially during the weekend (Smith, 2014; Hatfield, 2006; Hobbs et al., 2003; Chatterton and Hollands, 2001; Malbon, 1999; Hollands, 1995). Visiting pubs, bars and clubs, has become an integral part of many young people’s consumption lives today, with 80 per cent of the 15-24 year old group engaged in this activity in the UK (Mintel, 2000: 15). This chapter analyses young adults’ experiences of a ‘night out’, drawing primarily on three UK cities, Leeds, Bristol and Newcastle, and is concerned with the production, regulation and consumption of the ‘night-time economy’ (or ‘urban nightscapes’, see Chatterton and Hollands, 2003).
