Switch Southampton to close for Girls Night In

Switch Southampton announced on Sunday night that it would be closed to the public on Wednesday, October 27, in a bid to support the Girls Night In (GNI) movement.

The movement has come to light after students across the city and the rest of the UK are taking a stand to boycott clubs and bars to address the issue of drink spiking and sexual violence.

This student-led boycott will take place across the country on Wednesday, 27 October.

Switch has joined the movement and has announced the closure of the venue on Wednesday.

In a statement on Facebook, the team said: "Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of our customers each and every visit to our venue. This is something we take very seriously, as everyone should be able to feel safe on a night out.

"While these incidents are incredibly rare even one spiking is too many, so here are some of the measures we have in place.

"Our teams are trained on the issue of drink spiking. They are aware of what to look out for and what to do.

"We operate our We Care policy which is about making sure we look after our customers and that everyone who comes to us gets home safely. We will make sure this is more visible so everyone is aware they can ask us if they need help.

"We carry out thorough searches which we have already started increasing.

"We have CCTV coverage throughout the venue and our security wear bodycams. We will always review these if an allegation’s made and will pass on to the police to help with any investigation.

"We will provide anti-spiking bottle stoppers and protective drink covers - just ask us when you order your drink.

"We always have a qualified first aider on site and a quiet room where we can look after you if you aren’t feeling well or just need a breather. We can call the emergency services for you if we need to.

"We will never ask anyone to leave on their own and our staff are able to arrange for a taxi or friend/family member to collect you."