Row erupts over Tory plan to stop Soho pub goers standing up
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has slammed a plan backed by a Tory council to stop pub goers in Soho from drinking while standing up.
Westminster Council, the now-Conservative-run local authority that covers London’s most popular drinking spots, has set out its ambition to radically limit “vertical drinking” or ordering drinks at the bar under a revision of its licensing policies.
A consultation document shared by the authority proposed to introduce measures to ban vertical drinking by either forcing venues to provide a “minimum number of seats at all times” or “requiring sales to be by waiter or waitress service only”.
It said that places with fewer people standing up while drinking tended to be “less crowded” and were “generally associated with lower noise levels and more orderly dispersal”.
The document clearly said that measures could “reduce” or “remove opportunities” for what they refer to as “vertical drinking”.
It also noted that Westminster officials were “concerned” about restaurants operating as bars allowing people to stand up while drinking, with council powers over the Soho area allowing it to refuse applications for further bars and pubs to open in the area.
Khan hit out at the proposal for Soho and the West End that aimed to tighten licensing laws.
A spokesperson for the mayor said that “restrictive and anti-growth policies aren’t working” and said rules were “stacked against” pubs.
“That’s why the new powers the Mayor is getting from the 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,” he added.
Pubs in Soho to be hit by new rules
Local Tory councillors have erupted over “false” information, hitting out at The Guardian, which first reported the story.
Tim Barnes, the council member for growth and planning, said it was “ludicrous to suggest the council is planning to ban people standing up in pubs”.
“Suggesting otherwise is a wilful misreading of the policy proposals with clauses taken out of context,” he said.
“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.”
Campaigners for loosening planning rules said the councillors’ pushback was “wrong” and showed they misunderstood their own consultation document.
Lucy Rogers, a campaigner at the group Looking For Growth, accused Westminster Council of “destroying Britain’s hospitality industry”.
“They want to demonise our pub culture and ban fun. Timothy Barnes and his colleagues must let adults stand up.”
Newly-introduced legislation will allow Khan to provide a London-wide licensing policy and be consulted when councils revise their own policies.
He will also be able to call in important decisions for review.