The Mayor of London’s ‘Nightlife Taskforce’ has revealed a year’s worth of work in the making.
With many venues forbidden from staying open past midnight, no affordable ways to get back home and the price of a pint making punter’s eyes water, it is no surprise the city’s nightlife is getting a bad reputation.
But the taskforce, which was set up one year ago, put together the best minds and leaders from across the industry – which contributes £139 billion a year – to come up with a plan to save it.
And today they are publishing their landmark report, described as the ‘most comprehensive yet’.
The biggest introduction is undoubtedly the new London-wide licensing standard.
This should, hopefully, modernise the application process and make decisions more consistent, bringing every decision under a single standard.
Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture and nightlife, told Metro cutting red tape on licensing applications would be one way to breathe new life into London’s nighttime economy so it can be more like Berlin.
She said at a launch of plans at the Colour Factory Club in Hackney: ‘This is all about growing the nighttime economy. We are working with the operators and the artistes – it’s a team effort.
‘We want to cut planning red tape and have a more open and transparent licensing application system which many operators have been asking for.’
It comes as London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to receive significant powers to challenge NIMBYs, putting a stop to planning and licensing developments.
What are the key recommendations from London's Nightlife Taskforce?
New London-wide licensing standard – making decisions more consistent and bringing the application process under a single standard
Creation of an independent Nightlife Commission – To help oversee the recommendations, working closely with City Hall, councils and police.
Recognise nightlife as culture – acknowledge the cultural, social and heritage value of nightlife, and widen its access to national cultural support programmes.
Support nightlife small businesses – call for nightlife business rates relief and support measures, including reduced VAT rate.
Create a Nightlife Future Fund – support innovative nightlife projects, particularly those led by underrepresented communities.
Strengthen access to space for nightlife – create a simplified process to allow temporary nightlife venues and a central database of vacant properties across the capital with potential to host nightlife.
Plan for a truly 24-hour city – improve infrastructure for nightlife spaces, widen use of the high street after 6pm and ensure all policies better support activity at night and those working.
Align night-time transport with changing demand – enhance night-time transport to better reflect nightlife, including re-establishing the Late Night Transport Working Group.
Rethink approaches to night-time sound – use noise monitoring technology to help make decisions relating to complaints about noise, strengthen Agent of Change protections for venues, and advocate for legislative reform to require a minimum of 10 unrelated noise complaints before Environmental health investigate.
Create safer nights through partnership and harm reduction – independently review the impact of policing and licensing practices, ensure police resources are proportionately allocated across nightlife areas taking into account crime patterns and footfall, and adapt an early intervention and supportive public health approach.
The Government is now allowing him to decide on licensing applications for key nightlife venues as well as more al fresco dining.
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The Taskforce has also recommended the creation of an independent Nightlife Commission to help deliver the recommendations, which the Mayor has already pledged £300,000 towards.
Callum Leslie chairman of the Nightlife Taskforce told Metro that areas like Hackney and Peckham, which are not the tourist centre of the capital, were the rising forces in London’s night time economy, which had been hit by stringent licensing laws and high overheads.
He said: ‘There are a lot of challenges with thinks like space and regulation.
‘You come to Hackney and it’s one of the areas we can be proud of. Also Peckham. The classic idea that we rely on the centre of town (for nightlife) like other cities is perhaps something we need to move on from.’
It comes after a disastrous plans to bring in a Night Czar for the capital which only worsened its nightlife reputation.
Amy Lamé was brought in to save the night-time economy within a year of Khan’s election in 2016.
She was hailed as a ‘fantastic hire’, but over the course of eight yers her salary went up to £130,000, while London suffered a 19% decline in late night venues since Covid lockdowns.
Even the most iconic of venues have had to shutter, including Tiger Tiger and G-A-Y Bar.
But Khan is certainly positive that this is light at the end of the tunnel for businesses and punters alike.
He said: ‘London’s independent Nightlife Taskforce has put together the most detailed picture we’ve ever had of the challenges and opportunities facing our capital at night.
‘Our night-time economy supports more than a million jobs, contributes more than £139bn to our economy and brings communities together, but action is needed to ensure that it can be a thriving part of life in our city for many years to come.
‘The taskforce’s recommendations set out a bold future for our life at night and I’m committed to working with partners to do all I can to support this.
‘This includes receiving new licensing powers from the Government soon that will help us to unlock the potential of our capital’s nightlife, as we build a better London for everyone.’
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