Mayor grants welcome boost for London’s hospitality businesses

Home » Resources

The Mayor of London has pledged to support London’s hospitality businesses this summer with additional funding and new powers to boost the city’s nighttime economy.

Sadiq Khan has been granted special powers from the Government to lift the difficult ‘red tape’ that suppresses thousands of venues. Additionally, the mayor has announced a £300,000 fund to support restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs across London this summer.

The news comes after a difficult few months of tax hikes for the hospitality industry, putting pressure on an unprecedented number of businesses.

The mayor now has the power to review blocked licensing applications for pubs, bars and restaurants in the capital, allowing them to stay open later and extend serving hours. The pilot scheme is part of the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’ to help grow the hospitality industry in the UK, boost employment and bring back the ‘British night out’.

It is widely believed that the current red tape significantly hinders the hospitality sector, as stringent licensing regulations serve as a barrier to economic growth and success.

The £300,000 ‘Summer Streets Fund’ earmarked for hospitality businesses comes off the back of these new privileges, as Sadiq aims to reinvigorate the nighttime economy in London; to promote outside dining and enable later opening hours. The funding is set to reduce the cost burden on restaurants, pubs, and bars, allowing them to extend their al fresco offerings as visitor numbers increase over the warmer months.

Michael Kill, Chief Executive of the Nighttime Industries Association, called these changes a “vital and timely move” as hospitality businesses continue to feel the pressure of rising costs.

The Government will assess the outcome of this pilot scheme later in the summer, with the hope of extending better licensing options for businesses across the whole of the UK. UK Hospitality, The Institute of Licensing, and The British Beer and Pub Association are working closely with the government to explore this option to create a better hospitality experience for UK residents and tourists, while ensuring public safety is kept as a priority.

To find out more about the Summer Streets Fund or the London Mayor’s new powers for hospitality businesses, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-calls-last-orders-on-red-tape-choking-pubs-clubs-and-restaurants-in-major-boost-to-the-british-night-out

So, later nights may be on the horizon for your business in the near future. Is your business ready? To cater for extended serving hours and more outside dining, your venue will need to optimise its operations and efficiencies now, more than ever.

To find out more about how Kitchen CUT hospitality management software can help your business to drive performance, reduce waste, enhance customer experience and drive profits, book a demo today.