The owner of Watford’s biggest nightclub fears clubs and late night venues could close for good if the government does not provide financial support or give clubs the green light to reopen soon.

Peter Marks, chief executive of the Deltic Group which owns Pryzm, says the late-night leisure sector is at “risk of collapse”.

While pubs and bars have been given the all-clear to reopen in Watford, places like Pryzm, which attracts thousands of young adults from across Hertfordshire and north London, remain closed.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said venues where there is “close proximity” will remain shut because of concerns about social distancing.

However, a consortium of leading night-time industry operators, including Pryzm Watford, is making a case for a return to business with a report backed by the Institute of Occupational Medicine on what can be done to mitigate the spread of the virus.

This includes temperature checks upon entry, ID scanners to assist with test-and-trace, crowd control, contactless payment, sophisticated ventilation systems, large square footage venues, and frequent and high intensity cleaning regimes.

It has also been suggested in the report wearing face coverings on the dancefloor can be implemented and enforced through existing security staff and protocols.

Mr Marks said: "The late night leisure sector, a sector which employs tens of thousands across the UK, is at risk of collapse if the government does not act now - it is that simple.

"We need a clear reopening plan, or at the very least fit-for-purpose financial assistance."

Survey results released by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) show that 58 per cent of businesses within the night-time economy fear they will not survive longer than two months without further government support.

This would put an estimated 754,000 jobs at risk.

This comes as 71 per cent of businesses surveyed are already set to make more than half of their workforce redundant in a matter of weeks.

The majority of late-night operators have not qualified for any grants, bounceback loans, or coronavirus loans (CBILS) and as yet have had no help with rents.

With the Chancellor’s furlough scheme coming to an end in October, venues are under threat of going under with thousands of jobs lost as the sector remains the only one without a clear reopening date.

The NTIA says the night-time economy contributes £66 billion to the UK economy per annum.