Westminster Council Proposes Ban on Standing in Soho and West End Pubs

Westminster City Council, which governs the Soho and West End nightlife district, has released a draft licensing policy that would prohibit “vertical drinking” – ordering drinks at the bar and standing while socialising. The draft also recommends that alcohol and food be sold only by waiter or waitress service and that new licences for pubs, bars, fast-food premises or venues offering music and dancing be normally refused within the designated “cumulative impact zone.”

The Guardian

Council officials argue the policy aims to “discourage excessive drunkenness” and reduce crowding on pavements, suggesting that venues should provide more seated capacity and manage customer flow. Deputy leader Tim Barnes, Westminster’s cabinet member for growth and planning, said the guidance is intended to prevent “people packing on to pavements” and to address “excessive drinking” that may disturb passers-by.

The Guardian

Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office criticised the draft as “restrictive and anti-growth,” noting that new mayoral powers – expected to be granted later this year via secondary legislation – would allow the mayor to “call in” local licensing decisions to protect London’s nightlife. The mayor’s spokesperson warned that the rules “stack against” venues at a time when they need support.

The Guardian

• “Vertical drinking is also social drinking, allowing people to mix and socialise as they wish, rather than being confined to their predetermined groups. So this is asking the traditional pub not to behave as a traditional pub and to ask people to stay with the group they came with. One could characterise this as being contrary to the ethos of pubs as places which promote community cohesion.” — Philip Kolvin KC, top licensing lawyer — Philip Kolvin KC, top licensing lawyer.

The Guardian