Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has welcomed the publication of a report by the London Nightlife Taskforce which calls for growing the number of venues opening after dark — putting him on a collision course with many residents in Camden and Westminster.
The report sets out 23 recommendations “to protect, support and grow London’s nightlife industries”.
Among them are the introduction of a London-wide licensing standard to make applications simpler and the creation of a permanent, independent London Nightlife Commission — something which Khan has provided a grant of £300,000 to help establish.
The report which was drawn up by members of the night-time industry also wants changes to the Environmental Act 1990, to require “a minimum of ten unrelated household complaints before Environmental Health investigations into licensed spaces are triggered”, making it more difficult for residents to seek redress from noisy venues.
In recent years both Camden and Westminster councils have been looking at hospitality and licensing, and updating their licensing policies.
Camden, which has seen an increased in licensed premises since 2019, last year approved a new policy allowing later opening of licensed premises, and scrapping the Cumulative Impact Zones in Seven Dials and Camden Town, despite concerns from a coalition of residents groups in the borough who opposed the changes.
As the late night economy is a driver of alcohol-related crime the Mayor wants to create safer nights out and ensure “police resources are proportionately allocated across nightlife areas taking into account crime patterns and footfall, and adopt an early intervention and supportive public health approach”, says the GLA’s Strategic Licensing team.
Later this year, the Mayor of London will gain new licensing powers from the Government that will allow him to overrule some licensing decisions by local councils in order to promote nightlife venues and supporting more al fresco eating and drinking.
While the industry is pushing for relaxing guidelines controlling the sale of alcohol, more and more young people are shunning it, with 39 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds abstaining from beers, wines, and spirits.
Londoners are going out less due to the cost of living, and an increasingly diverse population is seeking a social and cultural life less centred on alcohol consumption — creating a clear challenge for hospitality venues with their historic ties to the drinks industry.
Next week community groups in London will be briefed by Greater London Authority officers on the report ahead of a public consultation due shortly on changes to licensing and planning frameworks.
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