Case study: Helping night-time economy businesses navigate licensing and other regulations
This case study is aimed at local authority officers working in economic development, licensing, regeneration and planning.
Summary
Significant opportunity exists in London to become part of the night-time economy. Certain barriers can prevent entrepreneurs and businesses from creating a night-time offer, such as security concerns, information overload, unknown logistics, and a lack of existing local evening hubs or attractions.
Entrepreneurs and businesses come in all shapes and sizes, from private companies and limited partnerships to community organisations, sole traders and charities.
The Night Time Enterprise Zone Toolkit (NTEZT) brings together licensing, environmental health, trading standards and planning regulation guidance in one place. And explores key considerations and regulations for those looking to offer evening or night-time activities.
Challenge
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge shift in how we use our high streets. Consumers moved to online shopping during lockdown, resulting in more online retailers. Many high street retailers have struggled to reopen. The hospitality industry has also suffered and is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is now an opportunity to refocus high streets and develop an offer that addresses changed consumer needs.
Historically, London’s night-time offer has not always been broad enough. It has sometimes been narrowly focused on drinking establishments. Night-time consumer activity is changing and there are opportunities emerging for different types of businesses to meet new demands.
Certain barriers prevent entrepreneurs and businesses from creating a night-time offer. These barriers include:
- security concerns
- information overload
- unknown logistics
- a lack of existing local evening hubs and attractions.
Walthamstow town centre is a major centre in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is an area of regional significance and the borough’s main shopping destination. It has the largest demographic catchment of all the centres in the borough. Walthamstow already has a vibrant cultural life and evening offer, including shopping, food and entertainment. There is potential to build on this and increase diversity and demographic reach.
Aim
The London Borough of Waltham Forest wanted to:
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support the recovery of the local economy, especially local high streets since the COVID-19 pandemic
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diversify the local night-time offer, including evening and night-time activities that are not alcohol focused
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make the night-time economy more accessible to new and different businesses, including private companies and limited partnerships, community organisations, sole traders and charities.
Action
The London Borough of Waltham Forest:
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worked with the Mayor of London and Night Czar to pilot a Night Time Enterprise Zone
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developed the Night Time Enterprise Zone Toolkit which brings together advice and guidance on laws and regulations that night-time businesses need to consider. This included planning, licensing, insurance, lease arrangements, food hygiene, trading standards, security and marketing.
Impact
The Night Time Enterprise Zone demonstrated a wealth of opportunities to reimagine and animate high streets later into the evening. It showed that a night-time economy doesn't need to be based solely on alcohol consumption.
The toolkit made it easier for new businesses and entrepreneurs to enter the night-time economy and diversify the offer beyond drinking establishments – including cultural activity and food offers.
Next steps for you
You may want to:
- develop locally-targeted approaches to help businesses navigate the complexities of entering the night-time economy
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signpost businesses to existing support and training where they can get practical help to launch or grow their offer and meet the regulatory requirements.
If you would like to find out more, please email [email protected].
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