The policy is designed to support businesses and boroughs by reducing the inconsistency of licensing rules and regulations, where each of the 33 London local authorities has a different licensing policy.
London’s wide-ranging night-time economy contributes over £139 billion to the capital each year. However, hospitality and nightlife industries have faced a huge number of challenges in recent years, including outdated licensing rules and complex processes.
Last year, the government announced it would give licensing powers to the mayor to help boost the capital’s night-time economy. The mayor’s new Strategic Licensing Policy is at the heart of these proposed new powers.
The policy requires licensing decisions to promote the licensing objectives by:
- Being based on evidence and avoid unnecessary costs and burdens for businesses
- Supporting economic growth, socialising and culture
- Supporting a wide range of cultural, hospitality and night-time activities
- Recognising the benefits of offering a range of well-managed activities after dark
- Being transparent and working closely with businesses to address issues.
To work alongside these proposed powers, a new London Licensing Playbook is being designed to help boroughs, businesses and all those involved in licensing. The new playbook will explain best practice and provide templates and approaches to ensure consistency across the capital.
Aa six-week consultation began yesterday on the details of the proposed new Strategic Licensing Policy and the Licensing Playbook. The government recently issued advice to all licensing authorities to consider the impact on the economy and encourage growth when making licensing decisions, ensuring more support is given to nightlife and hospitality venues. As this consultation is launched, the government has published further advice to licensing authorities urging them to take into account local plans and strategies such as the mayor’s pro-nightlife London Plan and his vision for Good Growth when considering license applications, boosting nightlife businesses who have struggled for years to get the licenses they need to thrive.
Khan 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.”
Georgina Wald, Corporate Communications Manager at Fuller, Smith & Turner, and member of the Nightlife Taskforce, said: “London’s pubs and clubs are a key part of our culture, our heritage and our vibe. They deserve to be celebrated, and any move to reduce the complexities of licensing and recognise the economic benefits a thriving hospitality scene brings to the local area will be most welcome.”