Pubs and clubs would be able to open later under plans to give the London mayor a key role in licensing the capital’s late-night economy.
The Government announced last year that it wanted Sir Sadiq Khan to have the final say on whether venues could stay open.
The aim was to address concerns that the hospitality and entertainment industries were struggling to survive because of onerous “red tape” regulations imposed by borough councils responding to complaints from residents.
Now Sir Sadiq has launched a six-week consultation setting out more details of how he could use the new powers, which are expected to come into force this summer.
This would establish a Londonwide licensing policy, removing the “postcode lottery” between boroughs, and would require councils to follow a “playbook” of rules, including observing the need to promote “economic growth, socialising and culture”.
Sir Sadiq 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.”
The Government is proposing to give the mayor “call in” powers – similar to those he already has for strategic planning applications – that would enable him to overrule a council decision to refuse to allow a pub, bar or restaurant permission to operate outside normal licensing hours.
Ministers want to remove the bureaucratic “red tape” that is believes is hampering the night-time economy, which in London has failed to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Announcing the plans last April, the Government said it “backs the British night out”.
But Westminster council said licensing applications were only refused where safety concerns were raised by police or significant disruption was likely.
There are already more than 2,000 licensed venues in central London – of which about 900 can already remain open beyond midnight under the terms of their Westminster council licence, though many choose not to do so.
Last month, the mayor's own Nighlife Taskforce suggested that new rules making it much harder to close “noisy” pubs and clubs could be introduced under a radical plan to protect London’s night-time economy.
It wants councils to only investigate noise complaints if a “minimum of 10 unrelated households” complain, to prevent only a handful of “vexatious” neighbours being able to effectively force pubs and clubs to close early.
Earlier this week, Opposition peers raised concerns in the House of Lords that the proposed legal shake-up would allow the mayor too much leeway to override decisions by boroughs.
But the Government refused to accept changes to the English Devolution Bill’s proposed reforms to the licensing functions of the mayor.
Ministers are seeking to learn from New York where the Mayor has far more influence over licensing rules compared to London.
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