This follows earlier criticism from hospitality businesses, Downing Street and London mayor Sadiq Khan.
According to The Guardian, the final policy follows a summer consultation in which 81% of respondents disagreed with Westminster’s cumulative impact zone and 84% said the policy would be bad for business.
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The cumulative impact zone means applications for new pubs and bars in parts of the West End are normally refused unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The council’s final policy continues to encourage more seating and table service in premises serving alcohol, rather than open bar space for high volume standing trade.
The move follows Westminster’s statement earlier this week that it would better explain technical terms such as “vertical drinking” and “cumulative impact” following feedback from residents, visitors and businesses.
Fresh criticism
Khan accused Westminster of “breathtaking arrogance” and said the council was “ignoring” those who opposed the plans.
He told The Guardian: “By ignoring all those who oppose their plans and viewing hospitality in the heart of our capital city as a problem, they are letting down businesses, residents and our economy.
They would rather see nightlife die than thrive.
Khan
The mayor said London’s hospitality and nightlife sectors were vital to the capital’s economy and backed Government plans to give him new powers to call in some local licensing decisions.
The draft policy had previously been criticised by Downing Street, which said busy pubs full of people talking was “not a public nuisance” but “British life”.
Council response
Westminster has previously insisted there was “not, and never has been” a plan to stop customers standing in pubs while drinking.
The council has said the wider issue is policing and public safety, and has called for more support for the West End night-time economy.
Westminster deputy leader Tim Barnes said: “Beyond disagreements over policy jargon there are serious issues acting as a drag on our hospitality industry. A lack of investment in policing has left the Met objecting to many licensing applications over public safety concerns.”
The council has called on the mayor to reverse cuts to the Met’s licensing team, increase visible policing across the West End, extend night buses in central London and introduce Night Tube services on Thursdays.
Westminster licenses more than 4,000 pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants, including more than 1,000 in the West End across Soho, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden.
