Is London nightlife under threat? Venue owners tell us that getting late-night licences in the capital is becoming harder, forcing them to move to the edge of the city. Rob Star, who runs Electric Star, which has pubs in Bethnal Green and King’s Cross, said: “As areas get gentrified, people start taking over what were industrial areas and making them residential. Where do we go next?”
Bradley Zero, a DJ and co-founder of Jumbi in Peckham, is struggling to get a late licence approved, while the Printworks nightclub in Surrey Quays is closing this weekend, to be replaced by some new offices. London night czar Amy Lamé told us: “Licensing is the responsibility of borough councils but I continue to work with councils to encourage them to be more business-friendly.”
Old habits die hard for Pincher as he admits he still enjoys a drink
Christopher Pincher caused a scandal last summer when the then Tory deputy chief whip allegedly groped two men at the Carlton Club, admitting he had “drunk far too much”. The resulting row led to Boris Johnson’s departure from No 10. Pincher, though, kept writing a column for The Critic titled On Drink, about his misadventures with alcohol.
But now it seems that Pincher has moved away from the demon drink. In recent months, The Critic’s booze articles have been written by wine critic Henry Jeffreys, while Pincher does a column called Deluxe, getting paid £200 an article. Pincher hasn’t totally given up the booze, however. His most recent Deluxe column praises a whisky’s “warm, smoky finish”, and declares with a flourish: “having waved farewell, the liquid takes the high road home.” Some things never change.
Will the King be Harry Hill’s next muse?
Tony Blair is making his West End debut this week. A rock opera based on the former PM had its press night at the Leicester Square Theatre last night. It’s written by Harry Hill, and Steve Brown, with Jack Whittle, as Blair. Hill told us he was inspired by Blair’s “operatic” life, and said he could write about the monarchy next. “I wouldn’t mind having a pop at King Charles,” he said.
SNP MP hits back at Jenrick on refugees
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick claimed in a speech yesterday that devolved nations “virtue signal” but don’t take their fair share of refugees. SNP MP Steven Bonnar is not impressed, telling us that his seat often houses the needy, and as the “Government has full control over immigration ... it would be far more productive for him to lobby his government to provide adequate funding”.
Camera ready at Claridge’s
Singers Ella Eyre and Leigh-Anne Pinnock posed at a Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola event at East London venue The Bike Shed last night. Elsewhere, ballerina Francesca Hayward turned out for a new exhibition by photographer Alexi Lubomirski at Claridge’s ArtSpace. Lubomirski, who took Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding photos, also posed with actor Sheila Atim. Meanwhile in Battersea, singer Boy George attended a new show by artist Mr. Brainwash at Clarendon Fine Art.
