The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has responded to the Night Time Commission’s call for evidence on London’s evening and late-night sector, welcoming the Mayor’s support for pubs and the wider late-night economy.
The London night time economy (NTE) is one of the most vibrant in the world. However, restrictions such as late-night levies and inconsistent use of licensing law do affect businesses within London’s NTE and cut across effective voluntary partnership working, says the BBPA.
It believes that effective partnership initiatives, such as Pubwatch, business improvement districts, Best Bar None, Purple Flag, street pastors, and community alcohol partnerships, provide effective solutions to local issues. The BBPA welcomes the Night Time Commission’s support for these partnerships and organisations.
The BBPA also welcomes the specific NTE planning guidance, published in 2017, the Agent of Change principle, and continued liaison between the BBPA and the Mayor’s office via the Licensing Consistency working group.
BBPA chief executive, Brigid Simmonds, said: “It is vitally important that London’s night time economy is supported and continues to evolve. Partnership working between the trade and bodies such as the commission and the Night Czar will help support the night time economy.
“We remain against the imposition of late-night levies or blanket licensing conditions. New housing developments are vital for our economy and it is good to see the Night Time’s Commission favour of the Agent of Change principle, which makes the developer responsible for taking steps to ensure that existing pubs and new leisure developments are protected from complaints from those who move to live nearby.”
