Sorry Gordon to labour a point, but you seem to be struggling with it. Both cletus and DE4life make interesting points about why drinking/ socialising habits are changing ... but these are generic to any city or town across Britain. The point of this thread is to discuss why Blackburn's nightlife apparently took a step change for the worse circa 10 years ago. The demographic profile did NOT take a similar step change at that time .... but the viable routes across the town centre did. I remember when the Mall was not only a through route but actually hosted watering hole of it's own (The Clarence). These FACTS may not fit your agenda, but that is what they are ... FACTS. By the way if you are after a good night out try Leicester ... soon to be the first predominantly Asian city in the UK ... And still a cracking night out.