London’s early licensing curfews criticized as ‘killing off nightlife’
12 reported
A report from The Guardian states that London has the earliest council-mandated bedtime of any UK city due to "core hours policies" in nightlife districts that oppose new bar or restaurant openings past 11pm. Experts cited in the article say these strict restrictions are "killing off nightlife" in the capital, while cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds are experiencing an after-hours boom with more lenient rules. The article details specific curfews in London boroughs: Hackney sets an 11pm curfew on weeknights and midnight on weekends; Westminster, covering Soho and the West End, refuses applications for new bars and restaurants past 11.30pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends; Islington presumes to refuse licences past 11pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends; and Camden generally refuses licences after midnight Monday to Thursday, 12.30am Friday to Saturday, and 11pm on Sunday. In contrast, most other UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham have no blanket restrictions, while Leeds grants licences generally up to 2am. The article notes that this autumn, London Mayor Sadiq Khan will receive new powers from the government to override local authority decisions in an attempt to stem nightclub and pub closures.
What’s reported
London has the earliest council-mandated bedtime of any UK city due to core hours policies in nightlife districts.
Hackney's curfew is 11pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends.
Westminster refuses new bar/restaurant licences past 11.30pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends.
Islington presumes to refuse licences past 11pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends.
Camden refuses licences after midnight Monday to Thursday, 12.30am Friday to Saturday, and 11pm on Sunday.
Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham have no blanket restrictions; Leeds grants licences up to 2am.
Peter Connolly in Birmingham was granted licences up to 5am with no pushback.
Matt Farrell in Manchester and Liverpool has licences until 4am and 3am respectively.
Rupert Power in London has a 1am licence but was refused extension due to core hours.
PC Ben Reader from West Midlands police supports a lenient approach to licensing.
Sacha Lord credits Manchester's permissive licensing regime for its booming nightlife.
Sadiq Khan will get new powers this autumn to override local authority decisions on licensing.
Key figures
Peter Connolly, owner-landlord of Nortons and The Anchor in Digbeth, Birmingham
Matt Farrell, owner of Salt Dog Slims bars in Manchester and Liverpool
Rupert Power, owner of Jack Solomons Club in London
PC Ben Reader, from West Midlands police’s Birmingham central licensing team
Sacha Lord, founder of the Warehouse Project club and former nightlife adviser to the Greater Manchester mayor
Sadiq Khan, mayor of London
Sources: The Guardian
