Licence changes boost late night economy

A Study by the London Chamber of Commerce, which coincides with the first anniversary of all day drinking, has found that the predicted boom in 24 hour drinking and related crime has not materialized. Instead, it has created opportunities for the nation’s bars and clubs to extend their hours and boost trade.

LCCI Chief Executive, Colin Stanbridge, said: "The UK's licensing laws have long been an anomaly at home and a complete mystery abroad. But, at long last, it seems, we're moving in the right direction and giving London's late night culture a welcome boost along the way." LCCI Chief Executive, Colin Stanbridge, said: "The UK's licensing laws have long been an anomaly at home and a complete mystery abroad. But, at long last, it seems, we're moving in the right direction and giving London's late night culture a welcome boost along the way."

The LCCI survey - focusing on bars, pubs, clubs - shows that some 44 percent of central London drinking haunts were now open longer than they were 12 months ago.
Three quarters of landlords and pub managers declared themselves happy with the new extended hours, although a sizeable 52 percent of the trade has opted to keep the old opening times.
But for those who have embraced the change, statistics confirm that there is no doubt that the prosaically named 2003 Licensing Act has been good for the capital’s pubs and clubs.
The LCCI survey showed the late night sector has seen increased turnover and greater profitability, with 40 percent of pubs and bars outscoring yearly performance targets.

In addition, more than two thirds of landlords questioned said they were operating "at capacity", while the number of pubs that increased staffing levels over the last 12 months, topped those that made cuts, by a ratio of three to two.

The only downside for the licensed trade appeared to be increased workloads and rising costs, spent on extra staff, as well as on legal and compliance issues.