Sadiq Khan: London's nightlife problems 'not a question of Nimbyism' amid concerns strict licensing harming venues Sir Sadiq Khan has downplayed suggestions that Nimbyism is impacting London’s nightlife, saying that “a venue closing at 10pm can sometimes be good for us”.
Jeremy Joseph, owner of G-A-Y Bar on Old Compton Street, said in a recent Instagram post that he had considered applying to extend the venue’s licence to 3am, but concluded “what’s the point when I know [the] Soho Society will object, police licensing [officers] will object, EHO [environmental health officers] will object”.
Emma Best, deputy leader of City Hall Conservatives, said: “Whilst we welcomed the creation of a taskforce, I can’t help but think that many of the members of this taskforce have already been screaming the answers at the mayor for years.
So if you have a new development next to an existing night-time venue, the new developer should pay for insulation in that venue, to avoid them [their residents] being disturbed by the nightclub or the pub that does live music, or whatever.
“We’ve got to understand that in a city like London, the capital city, we’ve got to have residents that live a peaceful, good life, but also businesses, particularly the night-time businesses as well.”.
