Manchester Nightclub Allowing People To Bring In Their Own Drinks But Will It Work?

It seems like a bizarre idea but when things get tough, the tough get going, and sometimes in the strangest ways.

Chris Hindle, owner of XLR nightclub in Manchester’s student-heavy Withington suburb, has seen too many bars and clubs close around England to due rising costs and changing going out habits, and so is trying something bold in his place. He is allowing people to bring in their own drinks.

It’s called BYOY or, of course, bring your own booze. Basically, it works by allowing people to bring in thier own booze – with limit of eight cans or one 75cl bottle of spirit per person – to be placed on a shelf behind the bar. It costs £2 for the bar to hold the alcohol and when you want a drink you tell a bartender to get your beer, seltzer, bottle or whatever.  Under the system, you can also bring in a mixer like a soda and people make their own drinks in plastic cups on the bar. There is also a full bar for those who want to get their drinks the traditional way.

To compensate, Hindle has raised the cover charge from £5 to £10-15.

Now you might think that this is like a green light for people – especially with most of them being students – to get hammered. But just the opposite is the case, as least initially. Students say that bringing in your own booze removers the need to preparty and people are not getting as drunk as they would otherwise. Leftover booze ( after all, anyone would get smashed if they were to go through an entire bottle of whiskey or vodka, say), is kept at the bar.

So far, it all seems to be working.

“Nobody’s brought anything too stupid, nobody’s turned up with a full crate,” Hindle told The Guardian. “It’s going really well.”

Will it work in the long term? It’s really up to the punters (patrons) because it they continue to behave themselves and act responsibly then the authorities will leave the club alone and others will likely follow Hindle’s lead.

This BYOB concept works in England because you are allowed to take booze into a bar but not out of it. Many countries – the USA among them – don’t allow you to do that unless you rent out the venue for a private party.

Still, PubClub.com raises our glass to Hindle for his creativity and hopes that it is a huge success that enables his nightclub to thrive.