Nightclubs are going the extra mile to keep apace with the TikTok generation and combat a surge in drink spiking.

Industry bosses say clubbing is "back with a boom" but venues are continuing to adapt and offer additional services to keep guests safe such as offering anti-spiking lids on drinks and charging phones to ensure young clubbers can book an Uber ride home.

ATIK Dartford manager Jordan Craine says clubbing is back with a boom

The return of the night out has unlocked countless opportunities to socialise once again with many eager to make up for lost time.

The company behind ATIK nightclub in Dartford has recently been named the "Best Late Night Operator 2022" at The Publican Awards.

Rekom UK, which also runs Ashford-based club Cameo, was awarded the title for “outstanding work in the face of Covid challenges” after coming to the rescue of many hard-hit late night operators following a £10m takeover.

Atik Dartford club manager Jordan Craine said: "There is a flood of people who haven't been out for a year-and-a-half.

"A lot of people who hadn't been out at all to nightclubs. They've actually turned 19 by the time we've opened."

The nightclub boss says there is a lot of "pent up escapism" and people are dying to get back out onto the dancefloor, with some venturing out up to "two, three days a week".

A recent survey from the club's owner revealed spending time with friends (65%) to be the most popular reason for going on a night out, with the next being to relieve stress (23.6%). Whilst going out to meet a partner ranked lower down the priority list, with just 5.7% saying this was important.

More than half of those surveyed (56.4%) agreed that clubbing was a right of passage, and crucial to learning to socialise.

When it comes to spending on a night out, Brits spend £68.03 with the night lasting four hours and 17 minutes on average – only slightly less than the £68.68 spent in March 2019 before the pandemic.

During the lockdown ATIK converted into a "night pub" due to restrictions but Jordan says while private VIP booths remain popular, most are looking for that "big clubbing" experience.

"It's become a lot more experiential and immersive," he said. "But we have our big main room and people will come for the experience with the lights smoke, loud music and the atmosphere.

"We are doing some big production nights and when we do it we do it well. We spend quite a lot of money on decor and production and make it a real experience for people to come and enjoy with their friends."

But the long-awaited return of clubbing is not without its risks.

Last year the Essex Road nightclub ‘ATIK’ was temporarily closed by police after several disturbances took place in a nearby car park.

More recently a number of shocking incidents were reported to have taken place at Rochester’s Casino Rooms.

"Looking after customers is paramount and the most important thing we do in our business..."

Jordan says his team – which includes a roster of 16 security staff – are working hard to ensure customers have a good time in a safe, well-run venue.

He says they operate a strict door policy and 100% of visitors are searched and have IDs scanned upon entry.

"Looking after customers is paramount and the most important thing we do in our business," the nightclub boss said.

"We have people coming here who have just turned 18 and can be vulnerable and haven't been in a venue before like this with 1,000 people and it's quite an intense experience."

It comes after a group of MPs launched an inquiry into drink and needle spiking following a sudden increase in the number of incidents.

According to the National Police Chiefs Council, 1,032 cases of needle injection were reported between the beginning of September 2021 and the end of December.

In response to reports of an increase in drink spiking nationally Jordan said there was a lot more awareness and the club had introduced measures to combat it.

This includes offering anti-spiking lids on drinks, free water and providing a welfare area staffed by a first aider.

Staff have also undergone additional training and are versed in "Ask Angela", a national initiative where people who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can use the phrase to discreetly ask for help.

Jordan adds: "Our We Care police is there to ensure we look after all of our guests. It includes having a trained medic every Friday and Saturday night to look after people should there be a need.

"We also have a team of welfare officers. Girls who will go around looking for potentially vulnerable people to look after them and to make sure they can get home safe.

"It's quite an extensive policy that our staff live and breathe and it's at the forefront of our staff training."

Another new trend the nightclub manager has noticed among its younger clientele is the rise in demand for phone charging.

Many leave their bank card at home and rely on their phone to pay for services. And at the end of the night many wait around to haggle for the best Uber price.

"We charge people's phones because everyone books Uber on their phone these days but come 3am their battery could have died," he explains.

The club also offers a taxi escort service with a number of licensed firms available to ensure people get home safely.

However, some of the challenges the industry faces are nothing new, Jordan adds.

Keeping apace with the TikTok generation has also seen operators change the type of music being played.

Jordan said: "Music has changed over that time and we couldn't just open with the same music policy when we closed because people's tastes have changed," he said.

"Clubbers spent a good year and a half on TikTok watching everything else on their phones. So we had to adjust to it when we reopened to keep up with the market."

TikTok is a video-focused social networking service where users shoot short videos on their phone. More than 60% of users are comprised of Generation Z, which refers to people born after 1996.