By Saumyangi Yadav
While demand for partying is high, so are cover charges – some as high as Rs 10,000
After two years of lockdowns and night curfews, youngsters in the city are full of excitement this year for the new year eve celebrations.
However, pubs and nightclubs charging exorbitant cover charges for new years’ eve parties have dampened the spirit in the city.
Cover charges refer to the amount of money one needs to pay in addition to the food and drink charges at a restaurant, pub, or nightclub. Youngsters in Bengaluru complained that some pubs are asking for cover charges as high as Rs 8,000-10,000.
Rakshita Kumar, 22, a resident of JP Nagar, said, “I was looking for places to go to with my friends on new years’ eve and saw that a club in St Marks road was charging Rs 9,000 just as the cover charge. This is a ridiculous way of making money. These businesses know that the excitement is high this year so people will be willing to pay more to enjoy, but this is too steep, especially for the youngsters and students who are a major part of the crowd.”
Many pubs in the city are also organizing new years’ eve parties on December 31, but youngsters say that the parties are overpriced and overcrowded.
“The same thing happened on Christmas eve, and new years’ eve will be even worse. There is a culture of going clubbing on new years’ eve, and it has grown over the past years. The pubs are using that for their profit.
Many luxury places around the city are charging Rs 5,000-6,000 per person for their parties claiming that there will be unlimited food and drinks. They do not have so much variety and it is also very crowded,” said Akash, 24.
“I am shocked that people are still choosing to pay so much for these parties. It does not make any sense to pay Rs 10,000 as entry fees to just stay there for a few hours. It would be much better to do a house party instead,” he added.
The businesses say that since the crowd is very high on NYE, cover charges are necessary to filter the crowd.
I am shocked that people are still choosing to pay so much for these parties. It does not make any sense to pay Rs 10,000 as entry fees to just stay there for a few hours
–Akash, resident of Bengaluru
“Pubs take cover charges because otherwise people come and enjoy without ordering any food and drinks and spending anything, especially on NYE. It can obviously be a little heavy on the customer’s pocket, but it allows us to filter some of the crowd. With that, only the people who are willing to spend will enter the premises,” said Miten Shah, owner of Studs Bar and Grills, JP Nagar.
“However, we also do not promote charging so much as Rs. 10,000 for cover charge. We are charging a basic fee of Rs. 1,000-1,500, which is reasonable for the people,” Miten added.