A London council has vehemently denied that it is banning standing in pubs across the West End and Soho.
Westminster City Council - which has jurisdiction over some of the capital’s busiest nightlife districts - faced backlash after it was revealed that a new draft licensing policy recommended that pubs should seek to reduce “vertical drinking.”
The draft policy, which is currently out for consultation, encourages venues to offer fixed seating formats and advises that “greater weight” will be given to licensing applications that “demonstrate meaningful reductions in actual operating capacity.”
Downing Street, Sir Sadiq Khan, MP Dawn Butler, pub owners, and punters tore apart the council’s proposals in a public feud.
But Westminster Council has denied that its draft licensing policy is a ban on “vertical drinkers".
Westminster is famous for its fantastic bars & clubs - and we're consulting on how we can ensure as many people as possible enjoy our nightlife in safety. Ignore nonsense headlines about us banning "vertical" drinking - we love our visitors if they are standing or sitting!
— Westminster City Council (@CityWestminster) August 6, 2026
Take… pic.twitter.com/827SYZRag5
In a post on social media, the council said: “Westminster is famous for its fantastic bars & clubs - and we’re consulting on how we can ensure as many people as possible enjoy our nightlife in safety.
“Ignore nonsense headlines about us banning “vertical” drinking - we love our visitors if they are standing or sitting!”
In an accompanying video, Cllr Tim Barnes, the deputy leader and cabinet member for growth and planning, added the claims are “not true.”
“We’d like to encourage you to come out and have fun at one of the many pubs, bars, [and] restaurants right away across the city, which are here for you to enjoy,” the Tory councillor explained.
“We just want to make sure you can do that safely.”
The council revised its cumulative impact zone shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic to mean that Soho, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Piccadilly Circus were recognised as having too many licensed premises.
The zoning means that there is a strict presumption of refusal on new licensed venues in the area and applicants must prove that new venues will not contribute to existing crime or anti-social behaviour.
Westminster City Council leader Paul Swaddle reiterated in a separate post that the claims were not true and that there were no plans to close pubs at 10pm
Mr Swaddle accused Sir Sadiq Khan of "propagating" the story in a bid to “take over licensing.”
New licensing powers set to be given to mayors will allow them to block and overrule council licensing decisions.
Sir Sadiq Khan said in a post on social media: “You can’t run a world-famous nightlife district with a village-hall mindset,” while a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said the proposal was “more evidence that restrictive and anti-growth policies aren’t working.”
Downing Street also intervened in the feud adding: “Busy pubs full of people talking to each other is not a public nuisance, it is British life and it is thousands of jobs.
“The Government is devolving new licensing powers to the Mayor to help support pubs and nightlife.
“Soho did not become world famous by taking last orders early, switching the lights off at 10 o’clock.
“The Prime Minister encourages local leaders to work with the industry so that pubs can continue to thrive.”
Cllr Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, said in a statement: "It is utterly ludicrous to suggest the Council is planning to "ban" people standing up in pubs. Suggesting otherwise is a wilful misreading of the policy proposals with clauses taken out of context.
"We want people to go out in the West End and have a good time. Our guidance is simply about encouraging venues to manage their customers so people don't pack onto pavements or excessive drinking doesn't disturb others passing by.
"The Cumulative Impact Zone is recognised as an area that has a high concentration of activity and particular policies exist for that in Westminster and the Mayor’s London-wider planning. There is a legal obligation to look at every application on its merits and we do just that, meaning we see new venues opening all the time.
“Again, there is little change here from the policy of previous administrations and we have seen new pubs and fast-food outlets open recently including a license extension for the McDonald's on Leicester Square, which will now be open 24 hours despite objections from the Mayor’s police representatives.
"We are the country's largest planning authority with some 4,000 licensed venues. We reject less than 1.5% of license applications and there is a strong desire to see thriving, profitable, venues across Westminster. "As we have made clear we are happy to work with the Mayor of London on licensing and have just launched our own campaign to promote nights out in Soho."
