Unlike our New York cousins, the capital has never claimed to be a city that never sleeps. But neither did it shut up shop at 10.30pm. And so the question on locals’ lips is this: what happened to 24-hour London? Cost is, inevitably, a major factor — for revellers and businesses alike. From £7 pints to soaring rents, keeping the lights on is as difficult as enticing partygoers who can pick up much cheaper alcohol from the local supermarket.
Then there are councils, eager to prioritise incumbent interests, in particular fears around noise and questions about whether a new establishment will lead to a rise in crime, rather than if it will benefit the community. The very real risk is that London becomes a sanitised city, where only the middle-aged and elderly can afford to go out — but of course, by that point, would rather not.
