Rojo set to close its doors early next year

Tuesday 28 November 2023

A Beresford Street-based nightclub is set to close early next year, with the owner claiming that "basically everything is stacked against having a vibrant nighttime industry" in Jersey.

In a social media post last night, Rojo owner JP Anquetil confirmed that his nightclub would be closing its doors early next year – with this Christmas set to be the venue's last.

Explaining the reasons behind the closure, Mr Anquetil explained: "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.

"We have an outdated licensing law that reflects the conservative and risk averse culture of the island.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 nighttime industry."

Pictured: Rojo owner JP Anquetil announced the closure in a social media post.

He added: "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."

Mr Anquetil also thanked his customers, particularly those who donated to his crowdfunding campaign during the pandemic.

Describing the Government support for nightclubs forced to close during the pandemic as "wholly inadequate", the fundraiser raised over £16,000 to "help save Rojo and keep music and dancing alive".

However, the impact of the pandemic appears to be ongoing, with Rojo the most recent in a series of town nightclub closures.

Chris Tanguy, who closed Tanguy’s in Mulcaster Street in July having run the venue for the past 14 years, said so much had changed since the island’s party heyday that he was worried the decline was irreversible.

Pictured: Chris Tanguy closed his Mulcaster Street venue in the summer. (Dave Ferguson)

Soaring drink prices, the high cost of living, shrinking visitor numbers and the availability of home-based entertainment were all reasons contributing to the issue, Mr Tanguy said.

"It’s got to the stage where the nighttime economy is in a bad position and it’s not going to get any better," he said.

In September, Ce Soir owner Brian Smith said that "all good things must come to an end" as he closed after nine years of running the venue.

St Helier Deputy Sam Mézec described the recent Rojo announcement as "another sign of Jersey’s descent into terminal decline".

Another sign of Jersey’s descent into terminal decline.

Of course our nightlife will suffer when our young people are having to stump up over half of their incomes to rent a box flat to pay some investor’s mortgage for them.

Another reason more will consider leaving. pic.twitter.com/zilxWQXCZx

— Deputy Sam Mézec (@SamMezecJsy) November 27, 2023

He added: "Of course our nightlife will suffer when our young people are having to stump up over half of their incomes to rent a box flat to pay some investor’s mortgage for them.

"Another reason more will consider leaving."

It comes as figures released in June revealed that more people left the island than arrived between 2019 and 2022 – with most leavers long-term residents and 'Jersey Beans'.

Pictured: Last year, net migration for those with Entitled or Entitled for Work status was over 900 outward (more people leaving the island than moving to the island).

More working age people with ‘Entitled’ or ‘Entitled for Work’ status left Jersey than the number that entered in every year between 2017 and 2022, with an average net outward migration of 628 people per year.

Someone is ‘Entitled’ if they have lived in Jersey for at least 10 years, while an islander ‘Entitled to Work’ has been resident for at least five.

Rojo is set to annouce an official closing date in the new year, accompanied by a series of closing parties.