In planning, the evening economy describes economic activity taking place in the evening after many people finish daytime employment or formal education,^[1][2] such as eating and drinking, entertainment, and nightlife (which may be described by the related term nighttime economy).

Activities

The evening economy includes, but is not limited to:

• Eating out - restaurants, cafes, takeaways
• Drinking - pubs and bars
• Culture and entertainment - theatres, cinemas, live music and comedy events, ten pin bowling, ice skating
• Sport - spectator sports including football, rugby and greyhound racing often take place in the evening, especially during Mondays to Fridays.
• Healthcare, police and firefighting

Benefits and drawbacks

The benefits of a significant evening economy can include:

• Recreation for people, which is often welcome after finishing work for the day
• Increased employment due to local spending
• Reduced social exclusion and increased vitality in towns

The drawbacks can include:

• Noise pollution
• Crime and/or anti-social behaviour, particularly where alcohol is involved
• Traffic congestion

Regeneration

Evening economic activity has been used to drive urban regeneration in cities such as Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Dublin.