The Licensing Committee met to discuss the Westminster After Dark consultation, and to review recent licensing appeals. The committee noted the findings of the Westminster After Dark consultation, and also noted the update on licensing appeals. The committee also approved the minutes from the previous meeting held on 11 June 2025.

Westminster After Dark Consultation

The committee reviewed the findings of the recent public consultation on the Westminster After Dark strategy, which aims to shape the city's night-time environment for the next 15 years. The consultation, which ran for 14 weeks, involved online surveys, in-person and virtual drop-in sessions, and targeted workshops with community stakeholders.

Key findings from the consultation included:

• A general agreement with the overarching vision of the strategy.
• Concerns that the policies needed more detail, measurable outcomes, and clear funding sources.
• Mixed views on the effectiveness of developing a unified licensing policy framework.
• Worries that increased licensing restrictions and the introduction of a Late-Night Levy[^1] could penalise responsible hospitality businesses.
• Calls for geographically specific policies tailored to different areas of Westminster.
• Emphasis on the need to balance the preservation of traditional nightlife with the encouragement of innovation.

• Concerns about anti-social behaviour, petty crime, and noise nuisance.

  [^1]: A Late Night Levy is a fee charged to businesses that sell alcohol late at night to contribute towards the costs of policing and other services.

Specific concerns were raised about the proposal for Late-Night Entertainment Zones (LNEZs), with some respondents fearing that they would detract from existing late-night areas and become magnets for anti-social behaviour. Others supported the idea and suggested expanding them across London.

The report noted that the insights from the consultation would be integrated into the draft strategy to ensure the final version considers stakeholder views.

Update of Licensing Appeals

The committee received an update on recent licensing appeals. Since March 2025, Legal Services had been dealing with ten pending licensing appeals. Five appeals had been settled (including the Concept costs application), one withdrawn, and two new appeals received, leaving six pending appeals.

Key points from the update included:

• Sunset Strip: Sunset Strip, 30 Dean Street, an appeal against the revocation of the premises licence remains pending, but may be withdrawn if a fresh application for a premises licence is approved. The council was awarded £7,936 in legal costs, which is still due.
• Basement and Ground Floor, 13 Meard Street: 13 Meard Street, The Soho Society appealed the decision to grant a new premises licence to The Green Room Distillery, but the District Judge dismissed every appeal ground submitted by The Soho Society. The Soho Society paid £10,000 towards the council's costs.
• Blue Note Jazz, 42 - 49 St Martin's Lane: 42-49 St Martin's Lane, the appellant withdrew the appeal after a revised licence application was approved.
• Sunny Corner, 353 Harrow Road: 353 Harrow Road, the appellant withdrew their appeal against the decision to revoke the licence. The issue of costs will be dealt with at a later hearing.
• Concept, 37 Duke Street: 37 Duke Street, the appeal was withdrawn and total costs of £41,000 were paid to Westminster.
• Albert Scholls, 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue: 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, negotiations are taking place between the parties to see whether a settlement could be reached.
• Daylesford Organic Limited, 44 Pimlico Road: 44 Pimlico Road, the appeal was withdrawn and each party is to bear their own costs.

The committee also discussed the prosecution by Global Radio under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, alleging that the council was failing to stop buskers causing a statutory nuisance in Leicester Square. The council has appealed to the Crown Court against the sentence imposed by the District Judge.

Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 June 2025, noting that they had not received the consultation/engagement comparison figures which were going to be included in the Westminster After Dark Implementation Plan. The committee noted that they would be sent in a briefing note after the meeting.