London councils that block restaurants and venues from staying open later at night could soon have their decisions overturned by Sadiq Khan.
He’s been given the power to call in licensing decisions that may improve nightlife in the area. Alfresco dining experiences stand to benefit, and if the pilot is a success, then it could even be implemented in the West Midlands as well as Greater Manchester. Rachael Reeves has said that this move is going to mean that venues across London and Soho are not being unnecessarily restricted.
24-Hour Nightlife in Soho
Soho stands to benefit from this move in particular. Soho is a central hub for the city’s nightlife, with the possibility of benefiting from these reforms. Venues in the area have faced restrictions in the past, which made it difficult to cater to late-night crowds. Furthermore, if hours were extended, then this would make it easier for Soho's live venues to compete with the world of online entertainment, which is generally available 24 hours a day.
Streaming platforms have content available around the clock, and if cinemas could provide this in Soho, then the benefits would be outstanding. Music can also be streamed 24 hours a day, and if bands could play for longer, this would be a real boost to the economy.
London's casino scene, too, could benefit. Casinos that provide online slots and table games are open all the time, so people can access a wide array of games without having to worry about opening and closing times. Offering a real-world alternative to this would not just benefit residents but also tourists who come to the area, expanding cultural experiences while providing more accessible entertainment.
About the New Mayoral Powers
Under the new rules, Khan could intervene. What this means is that when venues apply for extended opening hours and get refused, Khan himself can overturn this, which could help to bridge the gap between what venues want to offer and what the people of London want.
This power isn’t just for late-night entertainment venues, either, as it is also for alfresco dining opportunities. Reforms like this are going to turn London’s hospitality sector around, with the policy helping to recognise the hustle and bustle of London as being essential to nightlife, while encouraging people to stay out later.
Of course, if applications are overturned and people started staying out later than they can right now as a result of Khan overturning the refusal, then other infrastructural changes would need to be made. We would need to see extended tube hours for certain lines where venues have been given additional opening windows.
For Soho in particular, this would involve adjustments to the times for the Bakerloo, Northern, Central, Piccadilly, and Victoria Underground lines. Several stations provide access to the area, including Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly Circus, and Oxford Circus, so it would be a very involved process for sure, and may cost a lot, but the benefits have a good shot at outweighing all else.
Changes like this could further cement the relaxation of opening hours into being a valuable investment, with local businesses standing to benefit as well. This could result in London getting more of a general overhaul, which may require some teething at the start, but there's a good chance that a lot more money could be brought into the economy in the long run.
