Mayor sets out bold new licensing plans to boost capital’s hospitality and nightlife industries

• New London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy designed to boost the capital’s vital hospitality and nightlife industries by enabling a more joined-up and consistent approach  
• Mayor to work with local authorities to reduce licensing inconsistencies and support economic growth across the capital
• Proposed new powers from Government would mean that the Mayor will be able to call-in certain types of licensing applications of strategic importance
• As consultation opens on the proposals, the Government publishes new guidance urging councils to look at the impact on the economy when making licensing decisions

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today set out bold new plans to improve licensing across the capital and support London’s vital hospitality and nightlife industries.

Sadiq has published proposals for a new London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy that would create a more unified and consistent licensing system for boroughs and businesses.

The policy is designed to support businesses and boroughs by reducing the inconsistency of licensing rules and regulations, where each of the 33 London local authorities has a different licensing policy. It would provide a set of overarching principles for the whole capital that will boost the economy and align better with the Mayor’s strategic priorities.

London’s wide-ranging night-time economy contributes over £139 billion to the capital each year. However, hospitality and nightlife industries have faced a huge number of challenges in recent years, including outdated licensing rules and complex processes.

Last year, the Government announced it would give licensing powers to the Mayor to help boost the capital’s night-time economy. The Mayor’s new Strategic Licensing Policy is at the heart of these proposed new powers.

The policy requires licensing decisions to promote the licensing objectives by:

• being based on evidence and avoid unnecessary costs and burdens for businesses.
• support economic growth, socialising and culture.
• support a wide range of cultural, hospitality and night-time activities.
• recognise the benefits of offering a range of well-managed activities after dark.
• be transparent and work closely with businesses to address issues.

Under the proposals, the Mayor would also be given the power to call-in certain types of licensing applications of strategic importance. This intends to allow the Mayor to intervene on applications that have a significant economic impact, such as large venues, festivals or temporary use of spaces before redevelopment, applications in a location of strategic importance, such as high streets, or that have an impact on the capital’s reputation.

To work alongside these proposed powers, a new London Licensing Playbook is being designed to help boroughs, businesses and all those involved in licensing. The new playbook will explain best practice and provide templates and approaches to ensure consistency across the capital.

Today a six-week consultation begins on the details of the proposed new Strategic Licensing Policy and the Licensing Playbook. The Government recently issued advice to all licensing authorities to consider the impact on the economy and encourage growth when making licensing decisions, ensuring more support is given to nightlife and hospitality venues. As this consultation is launched, the Government has published further advice to licensing authorities urging them to take into account local plans and strategies such as the Mayor’s pro-nightlife London Plan and his vision for Good Growth when considering license applications, boosting nightlife businesses who have struggled for years to get the licenses they need to thrive.

Sadiq is doing all he can to support the capital’s nightlife and last month the capital’s independent Nightlife Taskforce outlined its recommendations across 10 areas to protect, support and grow London’s vital nightlife industries. This included introduction of a new, London-wide licensing standard to modernise licensing and planning processes, making applications simpler and decisions more consistent.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “We want to continue improving London's nightlife by encouraging later opening hours, supporting our nightlife industries and revitalising our high streets.  Too often we’ve heard from pubs, clubs, music venues, restaurants and others that have struggled to get the licenses they need to succeed.  That's why I’m working to create a system that will end the ‘licensing postcode lottery’ and works for businesses, boroughs and Londoners alike.  By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer at night for Londoners and visitors, we can continue to grow our capital’s nightlife offer and build a better London for everyone.”

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, said: "People travel from all over world to go out in London. The city’s nightlife is a huge part of what makes it great. But overly-complicated and overbearing licensing rules are getting in the way of that. So, I’ve been working with the Mayor to simplify the system so that it work for pubs and clubs, not against them. This is devolution in action. Communities know what’s best for them and these changes will mean they can enjoy everything London has to offer.”

Cameron Leslie, Co-founder and Director, fabric, and chair of the Nightlife Taskforce said: “Licensing emerged as one of the most significant structural challenges facing London’s nightlife. The Taskforce therefore recommended a clearer, more consistent London-wide framework, focused on evidence and proportionality. This would remove unnecessary barriers, support well-managed venues and give boroughs and businesses a stronger basis for collaboration.”

Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality and member of the Nightlife Taskforce, said: "London is home to some of our most iconic hospitality and leisure hubs, from the buzzing nightlife of Soho to world-leading theatres in the West End. These are strategic, economic priorities for the capital that should be treated as such and I'm pleased that this approach to licensing from the Mayor will deliver that. This consistent approach is much-needed to deliver economic growth, meet the needs of Londoners and satisfy demand from millions of international visitors."

Sam Spencer, Director of Live Operations at Broadwick Live and member of the Nightlife Taskforce, said: “This is a major moment for London’s night-time economy. A London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy has been needed for years, and it’s encouraging to see real leadership in bringing forward a more joined-up, economics, culture first, informed approach. Greater consistency across boroughs will unlock confidence. When operators can plan with clarity and fairness, they invest, create jobs and build cultural capital. London’s venues and festivals are not an optional extra, they are serious civic and economic infrastructure, generating employment, tourism and global reputation. Recognising that some applications carry city-wide significance is an important evolution. If London wants to compete globally, its licensing framework must reflect the scale and value of its cultural and hospitality sector. This consultation is a genuine opportunity to modernise the system and support responsible growth after dark.”

Georgina Wald, Corporate Communications Manager at Fuller, Smith & Turner, and member of the Nightlife Taskforce, said: “London’s pubs and clubs are a key part of our culture, our heritage and our vibe. They deserve to be celebrated, and any move to reduce the complexities of licensing and recognise the economic benefits a thriving hospitality scene brings to the local area will be most welcome.”  

ENDS