A new night time plan has been launched with the promise of ‘quiet nights’ as businesses and residents continue to battle over London’s nightlife.
Westminster Council announced plans to launch late-night entertainment zones in Oxford Street, the Strand and Victoria Street to move noise away from those living near late night venues.
This is despite London suffering a 19% decline in late night venues since Covid lockdowns, with iconic venues including Tiger Tiger and G-A-Y announcing their closures or planned sales.
Noisier activities such as gigs will be encouraged to set up in the specified areas, after locals have hit struggling businesses with a barrage of noise complaints.
The council is also encouraging businesses to set up ‘quiet nights’ with designated calm zones for neurodiverse people to enjoy.
But business owners have previously accused the council of only listening to residents whinging about noise levels.
G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph told Metro ‘there is no point fighting to stay open anymore’ and blamed Westminster’s strict licensing, Nimby residents and the area ‘losing its queer identity’.
Venues in Soho have said they are struggling to get an alcohol license past 12am, and even asking to put tables and chairs outside is an ‘arduous task’.
Victor Garvey, who runs Michelin star restaurant SOLA, said he wants to extend his permissions by just one hour to allow diners to enjoy a longer time at the table, but said there is no point trying to fight it.
He told Metro: ‘It is Nimbyism at its worst. These residents moved here knowing exactly what it is like, so there is really no room to complain.
‘It costs diners £300 per head to eat here, but they are acting like we are some cheap nightclub trying to stay open until 5am.’
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An extra 100 CCTV cameras are also set to be installed in a bid to make the area feel safer, with an emphasis placed on protecting LGBTQ+ venues.
Siobhan MacGill, who runs musical theatre bar Archer Street, said the rising crime in the area is putting people off from coming into Soho to enjoy a night out.
She told Metro: ‘I have a lot of her staff who are LGBTQ+ ‘try and appear straight’ when they are leaving over fears gangs of men who loiter nearby will attack them.
‘There are a lot of intimidating characters, phone snatchers and litterers who operate in this area.’
It comes as the Mayor of London announced London’s new independent Nightlife Taskforce after the city’s former Night Czar Amy Lamé stepped down in October.
In compiling members of all parts of the night time economy, Mr Khan said he hopes the group will try and reverse the decline the city has been experiencing so rapidly.
Westminster Councillor Geoff Barraclough said: ‘Westminster After Dark aims to balance the needs of a thriving evening and nighttime offer with the wellbeing of the residents who call Westminster their home.
‘This new strategy is our response to the obvious challenges of managing these competing demands.
‘Following extensive engagement, Westminster After Dark explores how we will remain a welcoming, innovative, inclusive, and liveable city with something on offer for everyone.’
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