Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has announced his intention to overrule a residents' society that has pledged to challenge all new applications for pubs and restaurants in Soho. The Soho Society, a group established in 1972 to preserve the character of the area, recently voted for a new licensing mandate that will see it oppose all new licences, including renewals, and object to any venue wishing to open beyond Westminster council's 'core hours,' which end at 11pm.
Khan described the society's decision as 'bad for London' and stated that new powers granted to him by the government, which come into force later this year, will allow him to extend the city's late-night offerings. These powers will enable the mayor to overturn decisions by local councils to block pubs and bars from opening and to 'call in' licensing applications in areas deemed strategically important to the night-time economy.
The move could lead to later opening hours for bars and increased al fresco dining. During the pandemic, Soho was pedestrianised, and restaurants were allowed to serve outdoors, but after campaigning by the Soho Society and other residents, the scheme was wound down, leaving little outdoor dining in summer.
Khan said: 'The Soho Society's decision to oppose all new and extended licence applications is the wrong one – it's bad for London. Once in force, new licensing powers I've been granted by government, coupled with our bold new proposals to support London's hospitality and nightlife, will help us protect venues, extend London's late-night offer and allow the capital's nightlife to flourish.'
Restaurant and bar owners have warned that the society's plans could 'destroy Soho's reputation on the international stage' as London's entertainment district. Reports indicate that London nightlife has struggled in recent years, with declining footfall and venue closures. The society, however, argues that the area has seen an intensification of nightlife, leading to unacceptable noise, crime, and litter from late-night revellers.
A spokesperson for the Soho Society said: 'The society is a volunteer-run amenity society that comments on planning and licensing decisions locally, like in any other town across the country. It ensures that those comments are based on a broad reflection of views held by people in the community by having monthly meetings at which applications are reviewed for compliance with council policy. Our objections are often based on the data and experience that the intensification of the night-time economy in Soho has not been matched by an equivalent increase in infrastructure needed to safely accommodate such growth.'
