"Reopen, yes, but not at any cost": the concern of nightclub owners

At the beginning of July, will the French find those frenzied nights on the dance floor of a nightclub until the early hours of the morning? Nightlife professionals should be set from Monday, June 21, during a meeting early in the morning with Emmanuel Macron, as he had promised on June 8 on the sidelines of a trip to Drôme. "The health protocol and the conditions for reopening establishments will be discussed," said one at the Elysee. “We are awaiting clarification, arbitration and a specific date, insists Renaud Barillet, director of ten establishments (La Bellevilloise, Dock B…) in the Paris region and in La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime). We already have a lot of responsibilities in terms of security. The protocol should not prevent us from opening. "

After fifteen months of administrative closure, the reopening of 1,400 nightclubs in France should delight all nightclub owners. However, not everything is so simple. “Quite frankly, it's a permanent emotional lift. Reopen, yes, but not at any cost! »Says Nicolas Guihot, head of Space, in Val-André (Côtes-d'Armor). Among managers, the hope of finding customers is quickly swept away by a health protocol that they consider "too restrictive". After negotiations started in early June with Bercy, there is talk of a "health pass" being put in place. Only people vaccinated, fifteen days after the second injection, or those with a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours, could thus enter.

The idea of ​​a self-test carried out at the entrance has, for the moment, been rejected by the government.

“In addition, people will have to wear the mask, even on the dance floor.

It's inconceivable, ”chokes Jean-Christophe Buon, director of Point Bar in Deauville (Calvados), and former boss of Les Planches, a famous nightclub in the seaside resort transformed into a reception hall.

"Better to wait until September, when all restrictions will be lifted"

Night professionals worry about not finding their usual clientele, while the gauge should be 65% at first. Jean-Charles Rebecchi-Donabedian, 49, owner of Barel, located by the sea in Agon-Coutainville (Manche), points to the “tiny share” of young people who are now vaccinated. “6% of 18-35 year olds are! This is our target, ”he emphasizes. His colleague, Jean-Christophe Buon, deplores the “difference in treatment” with night bars, where the health protocol is similar to that of restaurants. “Imagine, you are with your friends on the terrace having a drink at 10 pm. Where are you going ? In a box where you have to be vaccinated or have a PCR test, or in the night bar where you come in as you wish? »Asks the boss.

Read also Health pass, self-test, gauge ... here are the conditions for reopening nightclubs

The opportunity to immediately reopen their establishment therefore arises for the bosses.

“No one wants to stay closed.

But we must be pragmatic, supports Renaud Barillet.

We have to trust the professionals, give us the choice and maintain the aid during the summer.

"" With this protocol, you will have barely a hundred boxes opened in France!

resumes Jean-Charles Rebecchi-Donabedian.

For us, it is better to wait until September, when all restrictions are lifted.

"

Nicolas Guihot "does not see" how he could be ready to welcome hundreds of clients. “I would need 20 members in my team. But even bars and restaurants are lacking in manpower, he notes. I should also do some ventilation work, but they won't be ready in ten days! "And Jean-Christophe Buon to conclude:" We are passionate but, under the conditions that are presented to us at the moment, we cannot reopen. "