Catalonia to allow nightclubs to reopen but dancefloors must remain closed

Authorities will give the green light for nightclubs in Catalonia to reopen as long as dancefloors remain closed, according to a statement released by nightlife industry body, Fecasarm, following a meeting with the Catalan government on Tuesday.

Clubs will be able to open until 3am, capacity will be limited to 50%, and customers will be required to wear a mask when they are not drinking. In addition, venues must keep a record of attendees and make sure hand gel is widely available. Dancefloors cannot be used for dancing but instead covered with tables and chairs.

Various musical activities will benefit from the changes, including venues with disco licenses, music bars, youth discos and karaoke rooms.

Bars and restaurants will continue to have to close by 1am, while music bars can stay open until 2.30am and clubs until 3am.

Joaquim Boadas, Secretary General of Fecasarm said that they "value positively the decision of the government as it is the first in Spain to allow the reopening of nightclubs, although we consider the timetable to be lacking since at 3am there is no public transport and people will remain on the street drinking."

Boadas added that they were very happy that the government "expressly acknowledged today that the legal nightlife sector has not been the cause of infections as it has been shut."

He said they would continue to demand compensation for the sector, and a safe reopening of dancefloors.

Nightclubs in Catalonia closed in March, before reopening in June when the state of alarm was lifted. They were forced shut again on July 24, and despite protests and legal action, have remained closed for the last two and a half months.

The Catalan Civil Protection authorities are expected to make an official announcement on the reopening of nightlife activity on Wednesday.