There was widespread anger at the plans to direct those applying to open new bars and restaurants in Westminster to implement the restrictions.<\/p>\n
The mayor of London<\/a> has new powers, granted by the government this year, to intervene in licensing decisions. He is using these for the first time to ask the council to rewrite the draft policy.<\/p>\n The Conservative Westminster councillors decree in the draft policy that newly licensed pubs should have to serve last orders at 10pm, and nightclubs should shut by 11.30pm on weekdays and at midnight on weekends.<\/p>\n It also labels the entirety of Soho and the West End<\/a> as a \u201ccumulative impact zone\u201d, which means no more pubs, bars or night clubs should be allowed to open unless under exceptional circumstances. This is despite the West End being one of the most popular nightlife areas in Europe.<\/p>\n Khan pointed out that Home Office alcohol licensing data shows that only 41 licence applications were made in the West End cumulative impact area in 2023-24, with only 16 granted.<\/p>\n Data also shows only 3.5% of applications that went to a licensing subcommittee in Westminster were approved exactly as applied for between 2023 and 2026, and pub and wine bar applications were down 80% in 2022-24.<\/p>\n There are also plans to label Mayfair and the Victoria area as special zones where nightlife is restricted due to noise and other \u201cnuisance behaviours\u201d.<\/p>\n Khan is asking the council to scrap all of these zones and allow new bars and pubs to open, in his formal response to the consultation. He is also directing it to get rid of the \u201ccore hours\u201d policy and allow venues to be open late into the night.<\/p>\n The prime minister, Andy Burnham, waded into the row this week<\/a> when he said standing up to drink in pubs was \u201cBritish life\u201d and should not be curtailed by local councillors.<\/p>\n
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