Westminster City Council has unveiled a draft licensing policy that would push pubs and bars in Soho and the West End to abandon traditional bar service in favor of table service, a move that has sparked outrage among hospitality leaders and drawn sharp criticism from the Mayor of London.
The proposal, currently in consultation, aims to reduce 'vertical drinking' by encouraging venues to provide more seating and require that alcohol and food be served exclusively by waiters. The policy explicitly suggests that pubs should '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.'
New bars face automatic refusal in cumulative impact zone
Under the draft, all new applications for pubs, bars, fast-food outlets, and venues offering music or dancing within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone would normally be refused. This zone covers the majority of Soho and the West End, two of the UK's largest nightlife districts. The policy states: 'The council will normally refuse any application made in respect of a premises located in the West End Cumulative Impact Zone that is a pub or bar, a fast food premises or a venue offering music, dancing and similar entertainment.'
A source from the London Business Alliance told Metro: 'While standing is one issue, the entire area will die in five years if nothing new is allowed to open.'
Mayor Khan slams 'anti-growth' policies
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has branded the proposals 'anti-growth,' reiterating his previous accusations that 'influential people in Soho' are 'thwarting fun.' 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.'
National impact: other councils may follow
The implications extend beyond London. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, warned that other licensing authorities often copy Westminster's approach. He said: 'Standing in pubs has always been part of Britain's pub culture. It's how people meet friends, watch live sport, wait to be served and enjoy the unique atmosphere that pubs have provided for generations. Westminster is one of the country's most influential licensing authorities. The policies it adopts are often watched closely by other councils, making this consultation far more significant than a local issue.'
Council defends its record
Councillor Tim Barnes, Westminster City Council deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth and Planning, defended the proposals: '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. 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.'
Barnes added: 'We are the country's largest planning authority with some 4,000 licensed venues. We reject less than 1.5% of license applications and there is a strong desire to see thriving, profitable, venues across Westminster.'
The consultation is open for public comment, and the final policy could reshape the drinking culture in one of the world's most famous entertainment districts.
