Bars and pubs could be discouraged from allowing customers from enjoying a drink while standing in Soho and the West End.
Westminster Council, which has authority over London’s nightlife powerhouse, recommended not allowing “vertical drinking” or ordering at the bar as part of its new draft licensing policy.
The plan, which is up for consultation, says the council will “discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and enjoy a drink and order food by table service in place of open bar space that caters for high volume vertical drinking.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that he hoped new powers granted to him by the government would stop councils from implementing “restrictive and anti-growth policies”.
Pub-owners in the area have expressed concern that this could lead to closures, redundancies and loss of business.
Lesley Lewis, owner of Soho’s famous French House pub and restaurant, said the policy would “finish us off” if implemented.
“We rely on those people standing up with the rents and the rates put upon us,” she said. “People want to enjoy themselves in Soho, they want to have a drink outside, they want to dance, they don’t want to sit down and just be where they are, they want to meet people and chat.
“People will go to other places like Camden Town that are a bit more exciting and a bit more license friendly.”
When asked what effect the potential changes could have, Ms Lewis added: “I don’t think people will come to Soho if it’s that sanitised, it’ll kill it.
“It’s always had that little bit of naughtiness.”
She added: “Our restaurant might survive, but the bar supports the restaurant. I know a lot of people will be made redundant.
“I’m sure it’s the same across the board for anybody like us. We shall have to fight it on all fronts.”
Licensing lawyer Philip Kolvin KC has warned that discouraging vertical drinking was against the ethos of pubs as social hubs.
“Vertical drinking is also social drinking, allowing people to mix and socialise as they wish, rather than being confined to their predetermined groups,” he told The Guardian.
“So this is asking the traditional pub not to behave as a traditional pub and to ask people to stay with the group they came with. One could characterise this as being contrary to the ethos of pubs as places which promote community cohesion.”
The proposal also gives the power to refuse applications for pubs, bars, fast food premises and music, dance or similar entertainment venues in the “West End Cumulative Impact Zone”, with exception for unnamed “limited circumstances”.
To explain the strategy behind the draft policy, the council said it wishes to “promote a more balanced range of venues that are less dominated by alcohol-led activities”.
A spokesperson for the Soho Business Alliance said they felt the counci was “trying to reduce the capacities in these venues.”
“It’s been like that for years where people are standing and drinking, it’s not causing crime, it’s not causing issues,” they said. “It’s them trying to change the nature of Soho and it’s quite sad that they’ve gone to such lengths to sanitise the area.
“They don’t want the late-night economy. This policy completely contradicts the Mayor of London’s London plan.”
A spokesperson for the mayor said: “This is more evidence that restrictive and anti-growth policies aren’t working. At a time when venues need our support more than ever, the rules on licensing are stacked against them. That’s why the new powers the mayor is getting from government are so important, as they mean the mayor will be able to call in licensing decisions and have a say in local policies to protect London’s vital nightlife and hospitality industries.”
Each of London’s 33 boroughs operates under a difference licensing policy, however new devolution laws will allow the mayor to create a capital-wide policy and make formal representations on licensing decisions, be consulted when boroughs revise their own licensing policies, and call in strategically important licensing decisions.
This isn’t the first time the mayor has faced challenges around licensing in Westminster, after the Soho Society, a group that aims to preserve “the character of Soho”, reportedly voted for a new licensing mandate in its AGM, where it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including reviews of existing licences.
Sir Sadiq said earlier this year: “Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and complaining about the museums. Or moving to Hackney and grumbling about creatives. Living in Richmond and hating green space. It's all getting a bit silly, isn't it?”
Cllr Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, denied reports the council planned to ban people from standing at pubs.
He said: “We want people to go out in the West End and have a good time. Our guidance is simply about encouraging venues to manage their customers so people don't pack onto pavements or excessive drinking doesn't disturb others passing by.”
Cllr Barnes added: "The Cumulative Impact Zone is recognised as an area that has a high concentration of activity and particular policies exist for that in Westminster and the Mayor’s London-wider planning. There is a legal obligation to look at every application on its merits and we do just that, meaning we see new venues opening all the time. Again, there is little change here from the policy of previous administrations and we have seen new pubs and fast-food outlets open recently including a license extension for the McDonald's on Leicester Square, which will now be open 24 hours despite objections from the Mayor’s police representatives.”
Read MoreWhy Andy Burnham’s wife is the coolest first lady in politics
Bev Craig secures win over Reform in key Greater Manchester mayoral by-election
Who is Bev Craig? Meet Andy Burnham’s ‘protégé’ who hopes to succeed him
More than 150 deaths reported after weight loss drug use
‘Heatwaves opened up cracks in my £500k dream home — now it’s worthless’
Every body of water in England polluted with toxic chemicals, report shows
