Nightlife Taskforce sets out plan for future of London at night
London’s independent Nightlife Taskforce has set out its “bold” plan for the future of the capital at night. The report, from the industry-led group, is “the most comprehensive evidence-based assessment of London’s nightlife ever produced,” says City Hall, setting out the “scale and importance of the capital’s nightlife and the challenges it faces.” The taskforce was set up by the Mayor in February 2025 to look into the issues facing London’s nightlife sector.
Among its recommendations is the introduction of a new city-wide licensing standard to modernise the licensing and planning processes, making applications simpler and decisions more consistent. The Nightlife Taskforce highlights that licensing and planning frameworks “have become outdated and a burden” for businesses and are in need of updating “to recognise the economic, cultural and social value of nightlife through a clear, single standard.”
The report highlights the challenges faced by nightlife around the world have faced in recent years and sets out its a “clear, practical roadmap” for the future.
Through research, data analysis, and the voices of nearly 3,000 Londoners, the report finds that the nighttime economy contributes over £139 billion to the capital every year, supports over a million workers, and plays a crucial role in tourism as well as local economies.
The Nightlife Taskforce also suggests the creation of a new and independent Nightlife Commission as a “unified voice” for the industry to “champion the delivery of recommendations.” The Mayor has announced a grant of £300,000 from UK Shared Prosperity Funding to help establish the new industry-led commission, to launch later this year, as a self-funded organisation.
It also recommends recognising nightlife as culture, supporting nightlife small businesses, creating a nightlife future fund, strengthening access to space for nightlife, plans for a truly 24-hour city, aligning nighttime transport with changing demand, rethinking approaches to sound at night, and working to create safer nights through partnership and harm reduction.
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