Young adults say they'll avoid Watford if Pryzm shuts

A survey by Pryzm also found 81 per cent of the 1,000 plus respondents are concerned Watford Borough Council "will not take their views into consideration".

The council will be making a decision on an application submitted by the owners of a building in The Parade to redevelop it into 147 homes and some retail space.

The proposal would result in the closure of Pryzm nightclub, along with Iceland, Laser Planet, and Steinbeck & Shaw.

See more: Watford mayoral candidates respond to threat of closure for Pryzm

Pryzm in Watford town centre. Credit: Holly Cant

Pryzm has launched a campaign to "save" Watford's nightclub and ran a survey in April in a bid to understand what people thought about the venue being forced to close.

See more: Under threat Pryzm calls on community to 'help save Watford's nightlife'

Results released by Rekom UK, the company that runs Pryzm, showed over 90 per cent of people who responded said they would stop coming into town if more bars and clubs were to disappear.

When asked if they would miss having late night venues in Watford, 93 per cent said they would and 83 per cent thought the town could do with more bars, restaurants and clubs.

Respondents said they would miss having somewhere to socialise and party with their friends, while comments about the positive mental health benefits of dancing and socialising were also made.

The main dancefloor at Pryzm Watford

Pryzm general manager Dave Vickery, said: "We have been humbled by the love and support for Pryzm since our future has been placed in jeopardy. To get such a huge response to our survey shows how important Pryzm and other late night venues, such as our sister venue Steinbeck & Shaw, are to young people.

"It’s vital their voices are heard and that we do all we can to ‘Save Watford’s Nightlife’. If the heartbeat of the town centre is ripped out we will be left with a ghost town, which is not appealing to anyone."

Pryzm Watford. Credit: Stephen Danzig

The chief executive of Watford Business Improvement District, Maria Manion, says losing Pryzm would have a "devastating impact" on Watford including on others bars and pubs, as well as taxi drivers.

See more: Watford BID say losing Pryzm nightclub would be 'devastating'

A CGI of how the Pryzm venue could be redeveloped into homes. Credit: Dwyer Asset Management Ltd (Image: Dwyer Asset Management Ltd)

The plans to redevelop the Pryzm site can be viewed on the council planning portal by clicking here or by searching reference 22/00506/FULM.

This is where people can say whether they support or object to the application, which is scheduled to be decided this summer.