JOIN USBengaluru is going to light up even on weekdays as the deadline for nightlife has been extended upto 1 am. Restaurants, pubs and bars will now have the option to run their businesses longer, something which they were allowed to do only in the weekends so far. But does Bengalureans have the enthusiasm to keep the party going all night?
Hangover, a bar and diner in Indiranagar, has seized the opportunity, deciding to remain open for business till 12.30 am daily. Desmond Rice, Managing Partner, explains, “By keeping the place open for one extra hour, our average daily revenue has increased by five per cent and we are expecting it to go up to at least 7.5 per cent.”
The customers are happy because even if they come in late, they have enough time to relax and enjoy their food and drinks. Rice ensures that the last orders are placed by 12.30 am so that he can clear the resto-bar by the deadline, 1 am.
Ankit Aggarwal’s ‘Tippler on the Roof’ has also been seeing a good number of people coming in on weekdays. “Most guests on weekdays are from the IT crowd, above the age of 25 or so. Earlier, when we had to close by 11.30 pm, it didn’t give them enough time to go out for a drink after work,” says Ankit.
What surprises Ankit is that with the extended deadline, his business has seen a marked improvement on Tuesdays, earlier considered a slow day. “I have events and offers from Wednesday to Sunday. If the crowd on Tuesday continues to be good, I may consider organising laidback live acoustic music.”
Overstaying guests
Toit, a well-known brewery on Indiranagar 100ft road, notorious for being impossible to get a table without reservation, is not too excited about the extended deadline. A senior in the management who did not wish to be named, explained why. “By keeping it open till 12.30 am, we won’t be getting new guests. The ones who are already inside will just stay longer. It will be taxing on our staff too who will get back home even later.” He adds that they have not taken a call on the matter yet and would have to discuss the costs and benefits of staying open an hour longer.
Other players in the market are unsure if the pub-goers, too used to turning in early, will show up for drinks and dinner on weekdays. Karthik Reddy, HR Manager of Jimi’s Beer Cafe, says they are closing at 11.30 pm as usual. On an experimental basis, the outlet in Koramangala is being kept open. “The response there has been quite good. The management will make a decision after three to four months by which time people will get used to nightlife on weekdays.”
As for the pub-crawlers and party-goers, they agree that it will take them a few months to tweak their body clocks. Amarendra Singh, CEO of an advertising firm, says: “It certainly is a boon for people who always complain that Bengaluru is boring because it goes to sleep earlier than other metros such as Mumbai and Delhi. However, it will take us time to get accustomed to waking up for work after a night out.” He thinks that youngsters will be most delighted by the extension.
Excited college students
Amarendra’s guess is quite right. It is the young college-going crowd which is most excited about the extension. Preetam Ganj, in the final year of degree college, says, “I am very thrilled because usually, pubs close just when the party is at its peak and we have to go to someone’s house for an after party.”
Though the new deadline is applicable to restaurants too, they are not too keen on keeping their outlets running beyond 11.30 pm. Vijay Kumar, Manager of Rayalaseema Ruchulu, a restaurant which offers cuisines of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, says, “ Right now, we are open only till 11.30pm every night, irrespective of the day. We are discussing a proposal to remain open till 12.30 am on weekends.”
They are concerned about the possibility of getting unruly crowds if they remain open late. The area manager of an outlet of California Pizza Kitchen feels that most people who stay out late will be going to pubs or bars and their business is not likely to be benefitted if they extend their hours.