​London Mayor Sadiq Khan granted powers to overrule councils rejecting nightlife licenses

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been granted powers to approve late-night licenses for nightlife in the capital, following a recent pledge to support the city’s clubs, bars, and venues.

Khan will now be able to “call in” licensing decisions made by London councils in “areas deemed to be of strategic importance for the night-time economy”, the BBC reports.

Powers are granted to Khan as part of a new pilot scheme aiming to support and protect London’s nightlife and hospitality industries that are currently “tied down by unnecessarily burdensome red tape”.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves said these powers could allow nightlife in London to “grow”, explaining: “A thriving nighttime economy is good for local economies, good for growth, and good for getting more money in people's pockets.”

Khan will be able to override decisions that stop clubs, pubs, venues, theatres and alfresco dining spots from opening late, as he pledges to “do more to support the capital's [nightlife]”.

Speaking on the pilot scheme, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "Too often, we have seen the complaints of a vocal minority of objectors promoted over the need for our country to grow - we are determined to change this."

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It follows the recent launch of London's first-ever "Nightlife Taskforce", unveiled by Khan in February, which aims to address challenges facing nightlife in the capital.

The Nightlife Taskforce was pledged in the Mayor of London's campaign manifesto ahead of his reelection in May, with a commitment to create “Night Time Strategies" and a "new London Nightlife Fund."

“The Taskforce's life is six months, but if they have recommendations before then that we can action then we'll do so,” Khan told Mixmag. “We want to make London not only a good place to work in and to rest in, but also to play in.”

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter