Sadiq Khan could soon get the power to overturn nightlife licensing decisions in London | Politics News

London Mayor Sadiq Khan will be given new powers allowing him to override licensing decisions by local councils.

This change could mean that the mayor can step in and give the green light to venues that want to stay open – even after their requests have been rejected.

Applications in ‘locations of strategic importance’ or with ‘significant economic impact’ will be among the applications Khan will intervene.

Such licensing decisions usually rest in the hands of regional governments in the capital, each of which has different policies regarding which projects can proceed.

The changes will form part of London’s new Strategic Licensing Policy, which will implement a series of guidelines across the city in a bid to revitalize the capital’s struggling nightlife.

Campaigners such as the Music Venue Trust have complained about the impact of complex and complex licensing regulations which make it difficult for venues to continue operating – or even open.

Soho’s famous gay bay GAY closed its doors in October last year due to rent issues.

Owner Jeremy Joseph told Metro: ‘I did consider extending the GAY Bar license to 3am after we lost Late GAY but what’s the point when I know Soho Society will object, the police license will object, the EHO will object.

“This is a constant uphill battle and another struggle in the face of a cost of living crisis that is negatively impacting almost the entire hospitality sector.

last May, Metro launched the London Grassroots Music Tube Map, highlighting the venues that played a vital role in launching careers and bringing communities together.

Khan argued that licensing changes in London would give a boost to the city’s high streets and expand its night-time offering.

He said: ‘Too often we hear of pubs, clubs, music venues, restaurants and others struggling to get the licenses they need to be successful.

‘That’s why I’m working to create a system that will end the “postcode license lottery” and work for businesses, boroughs and Londoners.’

The new plan is subject to consultation, which will be launched today.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder of iconic London nightclub Fabric and chair of Khan’s Nightlife Taskforce, said licensing was ‘one of the most significant structural challenges facing London’s nightlife’.

He said the broader framework would ‘remove unnecessary barriers, support well-managed places and provide a stronger basis for regions and businesses to collaborate’.

The Music Venue Trust’s latest report found there were 801 grassroots music venues operating at the end of July 2025, down from 810 at the same point in 2024.

Although the fall in the number of sites was the smallest since 2018, the number of people working in the sector fell by almost 20% over the same period, with most operators blaming an increase in employers’ national insurance.

A total of 30 grassroots music venues have closed so far this year, while 48 have been identified as having undergone changes so that they no longer fit the definition.

Meanwhile, 69 new venues were recognized as meeting the criteria.

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