In a move that will surprise absolutely no one who enjoys a pint without a lecture, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has ordered Westminster council to scrap a policy that would ban new pubs and bars from opening in Soho and the West End. The council's draft licensing policy, which was revealed by the Guardian, also asks pubs to stop customers from standing up while drinking - a practice it dubs "vertical drinking" - and to require table service instead of bar orders. Because nothing says "fun night out" like being forced to sit down and wait for someone to bring your drink.

Khan, who has new powers granted by the government this year to intervene in licensing decisions, is using them for the first time to demand a rewrite. The Conservative-run council's draft policy would have forced newly licensed pubs to serve last orders at 10pm, with nightclubs shutting by 11.30pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. It also designates all of Soho and the West End as a "cumulative impact zone," meaning no new pubs, bars, or nightclubs could open unless under exceptional circumstances. This is despite the West End being one of Europe's most popular nightlife destinations - a fact the council seems to have overlooked.

Khan pointed out that Home Office licensing data shows only 41 licence applications were made in the West End cumulative impact area in 2023-24, with just 16 granted. Even more damning: only 3.5% of applications that went to a licensing subcommittee in Westminster were approved exactly as applied for between 2023 and 2026, and pub and wine bar applications were down 80% in 2022-24. The council also wants to label Mayfair and Victoria as special zones where nightlife is restricted due to noise and "nuisance behaviours" - because who doesn't love a good nuisance?

Khan is asking the council to scrap all these zones and allow new bars and pubs to open, and to ditch the "core hours" policy so venues can stay open late. He's also getting backup from an unlikely ally: Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who this week said standing up to drink in pubs was "British life" and shouldn't be curtailed by local councillors. Finally, a politician who understands the sacred art of the pub stand.

Khan said: "Licensing decisions that could make or break our city's nightlife have, in my view, been skewed towards the interests of a handful of highly vocal residents and councillors, without giving enough weight to the effects on London's wider economy and culture." He added that the draft proposals "undermine City Hall's efforts to make London's nightlife the best in the world." In his formal response, he asks the council to "remove this cumulative impact policy altogether, instead setting out a positive vision of the economic growth that is being promoted, rather than the activity that is to be restricted." That means the ban on new bars and pubs in Soho and the West End would be lifted.

Khan cited Manchester city council as a shining example of a local authority that supports bars, pubs, and restaurants. "Manchester city council's policy has adopted a more enabling approach, with no core hours policy, no cumulative impact policy and a clear vision for what they are looking to promote across their different local neighbourhoods," he said. "As envisioned by the Licensing Act 2003, there is a presumption to grant licences for pubs, bars, clubs and other premises where applicants can demonstrate effective management and compliance with the licensing objectives."

Westminster city council has been contacted for comment, but given their track record, they're probably drafting a policy to ban contacting them altogether.