Nice Premium: Laurent, what happened during this first sleepless night on the Beau Rivage in Nice?
Laurent Merengone: We organized a grand white party to kick off the summer season in Nice, on Beau Rivage beach, inspired by the famous Eddie Barclay’s Saint-Tropez parties.
A big budget was allocated for this evening, with particular effort made on the decoration, entertainment (saxophone, dancers, models as angels…), and five DJs.
Hundreds of people, all dressed in white, traveled from Cannes to Monaco to attend this magical evening, both chic and glamorous by the water.
Of course, we had the necessary permissions to end the night at 2:30 am, but unfortunately, some grumpy neighbors decided differently by calling the police to complain about the noise! As a result, a magnificent evening that aimed to prove that Nice can party just as well as Saint-Tropez ended disastrously at 1:00 am while the atmosphere was at its peak! A real waste! And to think we are in Nice, the capital of the French Riviera!
NP: How did the 1,500 attendees react following the early closure of the festivities?
LM: A disappointed crowd! Very disappointed! All these people then left to finish their evening where they came from!
There were both people aged 30 to 45 and many young 20-year-olds who had never seen such a party in Nice! The youngest were amazed by such decoration and felt proud to see that in their city, they could have parties as beautiful as those at the Palm Beach or the Palais in Cannes.
NP: Did you inform the necessary authorities for organizing this evening?
LM: Of course! We have been organizing parties for many years and know the rules!
We had the necessary permits issued by the city hall!
NP: Finally, in your opinion, what solutions exist to reconcile festivities and tranquility in Nice?
LM: There needs to be a real public debate on this topic with the relevant authorities! We all have to sit down and find solutions so that we respect the peace of the neighborhood but also understand that in the middle of summer on a beach in the heart of the French Riviera, it’s normal to organize festive events that attract people!
It’s about the health of our city’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism! Our neighbors in Cannes have understood this well, so why not us? We often hear proactive discussions on this subject, but in reality, nothing changes! Everyone needs to be made aware of the vital importance of a real nightlife in Nice. The image of the city must change in this aspect! And as a native of Nice, I don’t want to hear Nice called “the beautiful sleeping city” anymore!
