Following the announcement of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s new independent Nightlife Taskforce in February 2025, the Taskforce has carried out research to explore the reality of London’s nightlife and the current challenges that it faces.
The Taskforce identifies ‘nightlife’ as being “made up of the activities, events and spaces that encourage social and cultural participation primarily between 6pm and 6am”. However, the Taskforce does acknowledge that this is not meant to be exhaustive or definitive, but it should be a starting point.
The Taskforce has set out 23 recommendations aimed to help grow London’s night-time industry. These recommendations include the introduction of a new Nightlife Commission, lobbying for a Night-Time Business Cost Relief Scheme and developing a London Licensing Operating Standard.
The Commission will be an independent body providing a unified voice for the industry. After its first year, it will report back to the Taskforce on the progress of delivering the recommendations that have been set out in the report.
The Taskforce also identifies that London’s nightlife is struggling financially which is impacting businesses and workers in the industry. It therefore proposes to advocate for the redefinition of nightlife business rates and lobby for a Night-Time Business Cost Relief Scheme. As part of these recommendations, the Taskforce suggests that there should be reduced VAT rates for nightlife and the Greater London Authority should explore additional relief grants and funds.
The report also suggests that Licensing has become a burden on nightlife businesses and frameworks should be updated to recognise economic, cultural and social value of nightlife. The report calls for the Mayor to support the report published by the National Sprint Taskforce and move towards a single standard which is used across London. This includes implementing a new London-level licensing policy, removing Cumulative Impact Assessments and core hours policies for nightlife spaces and developing a London Licensing Operating Standard.
The Taskforce recognises that the research and recommendations are by no means a “magic bullet” and that supporting London’s nightlife will be an ongoing and complex process. The recommendations set out in the report are definitely a positive step in the right direction for the industry and it will certainly be interesting to see to what extent these will be implemented in practice.
Link to the full report published by the Taskforce – London Nightlife Taskforce | London City Hall.
For further information or queries, please feel free to contact our licensing solicitors on 0115 953 8500.
