A seaside town in Suffolk has introduced early morning clubbing, following a trend seen in cities like Berlin and New York. Felixstowe's 'Coffee and Clubbing' events allow participants to dance at 09:00 BST, avoiding late nights and hangovers.
Vanessa Fullerton-Batten, the event's founder, stated her aim is to provide an opportunity to enjoy '90s club music in the morning. She noted the events are particularly appealing to parents who wish to avoid late nights. Fullerton-Batten and her husband, Ben Kay, who DJs at the events, moved to Felixstowe earlier this year and sought to foster community connection.
High street coffee shop Cuppa has hosted two of these events, which attract people of various ages. Fullerton-Batten observed that attendees are primarily Gen X-ers, in their 40s and 50s. She hopes to make the pop-up events more regular, ideally once a month, and plans to use different venues, including bakeries, restaurants, or bars. An afternoon session is also planned.
Susannah Hinchey, who owns a local fitness company, highlighted that dancing at any time of day offers good exercise. She runs silent disco walks and 'clubbercise' classes, noting that moving to music can produce 'happy hormones' without the negative effects of a late night out.