London moves to give Mayor Sadiq Khan greater control over nightlife licensing

London’s city government is moving ahead with a summer pilot that would give Mayor Sadiq Khan a stronger role in licensing decisions, as the London Assembly examines whether the plan is enough to change how the capital regulates nightlife and hospitality businesses.

The Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Skills Committee was set to question industry representatives and City Hall officials on Wednesday about the Strategic Licensing Pilot, a package that would let the mayor intervene in some local licensing cases and set a citywide policy framework.

According to the Assembly, venues and businesses in the U.K. need licenses to sell alcohol, play music or serve food at night under rules largely governed by the Licensing Act 2003. London accounts for 17% of licensed premises across England and Wales, with about 36,000 venues in the capital, making any change to licensing rules especially significant for bars, pubs, restaurants and other drinks-led businesses that depend on alcohol permits and trading hours.

The pilot’s main features include a “call-in” power for the mayor and the Greater London Authority over certain applications considered to have “potential strategic importance to Greater London,” a statutory London Strategic Licensing Policy issued by the mayor, a statutory consultation role for the mayor on all local Statements of Licensing Policy, and the publication of a London Licensing Playbook.

The debate follows recommendations made in May 2025 by a joint government and industry task force on licensing reform. That group proposed 10 changes, including a National Licensing Policy Framework intended to bring more consistency to licensing decisions. The government then said it would introduce powers allowing the mayor to set a strategic licensing policy for London and to call in decisions that do not comply with it.

The Assembly said its committee would explore whether the pilot will improve conditions for businesses in London or whether it risks falling short. That question matters beyond City Hall because licensing processes can shape how quickly venues open, how late they trade and under what conditions they can sell alcohol, all of which could affect operating costs and growth plans across the beverage sector.

The first panel scheduled for Wednesday afternoon included Alun Thomas, partner at Thomas and Thomas LLP; Brian Hook, director of Arts Theatre in Marble Arch; and Jim Cathcart, policy director at UKHospitality. A second panel was due to hear from Justine Simons, deputy mayor for culture and creative industries, and Marsha Kuye, head of 24-Hour London and licensing at the Greater London Authority.

The meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m. at City Hall on Kamal Chunchie Way in east London, with public attendance allowed and live streaming available by webcast and YouTube.

City Hall cited GLA Economics research published in August 2025 on devolving licensing powers to the Greater London Authority, as well as the 2025 report from the joint industry and government licensing policy sprint task force. The mayor has also published a consultation document on the Strategic Licensing Pilot.