The call comes as the consultation to Westminster City Council’s ‘Westminster After Dark’ strategy comes to a close. The new strategy will plot the course for the long-term plan for Westminster over the next 15 years.
Late-night levies give local councils in England and Wales the power to charge a fee on premises that sell alcohol between midnight and 6am.
The aim of the strategy, according to the council, is to create a “vibrant, culturally diverse evening and night-time environment that balances the needs of a thriving city with the wellbeing of its residents and visitors.”
The council has proposed Late-Night Entertainment Zones (LNEZ) in the
Oxford Street (between Regent Street and Tottenham Court Road/Charing Cross Road); The Strand; Victoria Street (North) (from Buckingham Gate to Buckingham Palace Road, including the Nova and Cardinal Place developments and Terminus Place).
Sustainable night-time economy
In developing these areas, it said that it would ensure that only responsible late-night operators, those who respect residents, visitors, and local businesses, are permitted to operate, maintaining a “balanced and sustainable night-time economy.”
There are also proposals for improved transport, safety, unified licensing policy framework and an increase in CCTV.
In its response to the consultation UKHospitality issued its support for many of the initiatives proposed, such as LNEZs, but reiterated firm opposition to the potential implementation of a late-night levy.
The trade body raised concern that LNEZs this must not result in businesses outside those zones being penalised by its exclusion. For example, Soho and Leicester Square are not in the proposed zones, but are the biggest night-life areas of Westminster.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said that imposing further costs on hospitality businesses would threaten the success of the strategy and ultimately undermine enhancing Westminster’s night-time economy.
“Much of what Westminster City Council has proposed is positive for the night-time economy, but these initiatives would be undermined if further, unnecessary costs are forced on hospitality businesses,” Nicholls said.
Abandon proposal
“Venues are already battling with the additional £3.4bn annual increase imposed upon them in April and implementing further taxes in some of London’s most well-known and vibrant areas, like Soho, would be a huge mistake.”
She said she hopes that Westminster City Council would abandon its proposal to consult on implementing a late-night levy and changes course.
“The introduction of LNEZs would be bold and innovative, the expansion of night-time transport would be beneficial for consumers and hospitality staff, and a significant expansion of CCTV would greatly help public safety and policing,” he said.
“It’s clear the council wants to work with the night-time economy to enhance its late-night offering and that’s something we completely support.
“My overriding message to the council would be to work with the sector collaboratively to make this a success, and recognise that its own ambitions could be jeopardised by simultaneously imposing unnecessary costs on the sector.”
