In a bid to protect nightlife venues from mounting financial pressures, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced landmark new powers allowing City Hall to overrule local councils and approve late-night venue licenses.
One of the areas that suffers the most from licensing decisions is Soho due to policies that oppose any new bar or restaurant opening past 11.30pm.
Westminster Council has designated Soho as a “cumulative impact zone” which means it refuses any new licence applications for hospitality venues unless there are “exceptional circumstances involved”.
Once a bustling clubbing district, punters looking for a late-night spot now have limited nightlife options.
Club owners and industry experts have warned that increasingly restrictive licensing policies are pushing venues to their economic limits and stifling growth across London’s night-time industry.
Although they agree Sadiq Khan’s proposed autumn licensing reforms may help alleviate business struggles, they’re unsure how much impact changes can have within a dwindling UK economy.
Charlotte Houldey reports.
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