Every person has anecdotes about memorable evenings in Brighton. For numerous residents, an evening on the town represents their inaugural encounter with the seaside city. That certainly applied to me.

It comes as no surprise, given the surname McGregor, that Brighton was not my place of birth. I initially visited alongside a companion to attend Pride celebrations, developed an affection for the location and returned within four weeks for an evening on St James’s Street. A narrative as enduring as Brighton itself.

I am not the sole individual who holds Brighton and Hove’s LGBTQ+ establishments close to their heart. Consequently, the revelation that the Charles Street Tap and R-Bar were shutting their doors affected so many deeply. This explains my decision to establish Save Our Scene, an initiative aimed at safeguarding Brighton’s LGBTQ+ spaces and preventing passive observation while another element of our queer heritage vanishes.

These establishments serve purposes beyond mere drinking venues; they have functioned as crucial LGBTQ+ refuges. Countless accounts exist of individuals discovering their community within gay venues. For this reason, we must take action to ensure these spaces endure. Everyone in our city has a role in preserving locations we cherish. Obviously, as the cabinet member responsible for economy, culture, heritage and tourism, I have a significant responsibility to examine every possible policy measure to maintain these venues, though I believe collective effort can Save Our Scene.

Did you realise Brighton hosts the longest-running gay bar still trading? The Bulldog. Establishing itself back in the late 1970s, it held the distinction of being the city’s inaugural openly gay establishment. Brighton’s LGBTQ+ entertainment scene extends considerably further, encompassing periods when homosexuality remained illegal and venues operated with considerably greater caution.

Brighton’s gay liberation history intertwines directly with our pubs and entertainment sector. Sussex Gay Liberation Front, followed by Brighton Campaign for Homosexual Equality, convened regularly at the Marlborough, the establishment presently known as The Actors. When HIV and AIDS devastated Brighton during the 1980s, queer venues became channels through which information, assistance and fellowship could reach individuals safely without risking discrimination. It remains alarming that numerous individuals travelled to Brighton to spend their final days during the 1980s because it represented one of the rare locations where people felt secure.

One could easily examine that heritage and conclude that protective spaces held significance then but carry less weight presently. I disagree with this perspective. Trans individuals particularly have faced years positioned at the focal point of an increasingly aggressive public discourse, whilst conventional anti-gay sentiment continues climbing. I have personally endured homophobic insults hurled at me whilst traversing Brighton after dark. Hate crimes are escalating because prejudiced individuals feel increasingly empowered.

So where do you turn when the external environment suddenly feels less accepting? You gravitate toward somewhere you understand you can express your true self. That continues to be what our LGBTQ+ venues provide.

Moreover, this extends beyond queer heritage. Brighton must rediscover its enthusiasm for evening entertainment generally. Public houses, nightclubs and late-opening establishments form part of this city’s character, and we forfeit something whenever another one closes.

For considerable time, the council did not consistently provide assistance. Our licensing regulations proved excessively prohibitive, which explains why last year I oversaw the most comprehensive revision of that policy in over two decades, incorporating a fresh Good Operator Policy that simplified the process for responsibly managed venues to submit requests for extended trading hours. The inaugural approach of its kind anywhere in Britain. I desire the council to commence from the stance that healthy nightlife constitutes something deserving support, not something requiring restriction.

However, I aim to advance further. Proposing new bars and clubs does not always represent the most secure political stance. We must demonstrate courage and preserve something integral to the city’s character. I maintain that the moment has arrived to transform our perspective on the city’s evening economy and cease automatically dismissing proposals for venues operating into the early hours. Substantial obstacles confront the evening economy, from the cost of living crisis to shifting consumption patterns. Yet without intervention, we will forfeit something that has represented a major component of this city and countless lives.

I will be occupied throughout the remainder of this year formulating our Nighttime Economy Strategy. I am directly soliciting the city’s input on how we can assist our nightlife sector. How do we establish a Brighton and Hove that remains accessible around the clock and offers something suitable for all? Certainly, I wish to support individuals enjoying an evening out. Nevertheless, I equally wish to support the healthcare professional concluding their shift at four in the morning who lacks options for obtaining a proper meal after midnight.

Nevertheless, our LGBTQ+ venues, particularly those situated around St James’s Street, cannot await yet another strategy document. For this reason, I am introducing a campaign to Save Our Scene.

I shall be extending invitations to every LGBTQ+ venue and space throughout the city to attend the town hall for candid dialogue regarding what we can accomplish locally, what necessitates change nationally and what tangible assistance would genuinely prove beneficial. I desire the operators of these establishments to inform us of their requirements, rather than the council proceeding from assumptions.

I have likely been ejected from more gay venues than most political figures have even entered. I understand these environments, I hold them dear and I wish to deploy every capability at our disposal to guarantee they remain available for subsequent generations.

This concerns safeguarding our nightlife, though its significance extends further. These establishments constitute elements of our culture, our community and Brighton’s narrative. They merit our dedication.

David McGregor serves as the Labour councillor for Whitehawk and Marina and holds the cabinet portfolio for economy, culture, heritage and tourism.