The county’s nightclubs are on the decline after figures revealed a steady increase in the number shutting down their dancefloors.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, there were 130 licensed clubs in Kent in 2018 - down from 160 in 2013.

That’s a 19% drop in just five years.

Medway saw 30 clubs remain - down from 35 in 2013 - a 14% drop.

Industry experts say the night-time economy is under pressure as cheap alcohol prices in supermarkets have encouraged drinking at home.

The data includes nightclubs, and any social and working men’s clubs that are licensed to sell alcohol.

Among towns seeing once popular nightspots disappear include Ashford, Tonbridge, Maidstone and Folkestone.

In that time, Maidstone has said goodbye to popular nightspots like Wonderland, formerly known as Liquid & Envy and Ikon, which closed its doors in 2015.

Meanwhile, Folkestone saw the closure of Onyx nightclub in the same year.

And more nightclubs may go, according to market research group IbisWorld, as companies focus their efforts on expansion in other industries.

Ashley Johnson, industry analyst at IbisWorld, said: “Many consumers purchase cheap supermarket alcohol to drink before going out rather than buying more expensive drinks in clubs, constraining industry revenue.

“Efforts to revive alcohol sales by offering cut-price drinks have been unable to fully compensate for this fall.”

So-called ‘pre-loading’ - drinking before a night out - has been an issue which has impacted on the night-time economy for a number of years.

A recent IbisWorld report highlights that licensing changes in 2005 have allowed pubs and bars to stay open later, taking nightclub customers.

Across England, the number has fallen by 16% since 2013.

Martin McTague, policy chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “A major issue for this industry are the sheer number of burdensome regulations that are adding huge costs to businesses.

“The night-time economy is worth billions to the UK, but firms are being faced with strict licensing laws, rising insurance costs, ever-increasing business rates on top of burgeoning employment costs and other liabilities.”

The figures come hot on the heels of depressing reading for pub goers too, with cheap supermarket booze also being blamed for around 10 pubs a year across the county shutting up for good - part of a steady trend over the last decade which has seen hundreds shut up shop.