Haringey licence rulings: Mayor can now have the final say

A licensing decision made by Haringey councillors is no longer always the last word. From today, Tuesday 3 November, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, can call in licensing applications he judges to be of strategic importance to London and decide them himself, after the borough has made its ruling.

City Hall says it is the first time a UK mayor has been able to make a direct decision on a licensing application. The power comes from the Government, and the Mayor’s office calls it “a new era for London’s nightlife”.

Which Haringey cases it could touch

The Mayor can step in “following local licensing decisions”, his office said, on applications that can be defined as strategically important for London’s economy and its reputation as a global city. The examples it gives are:

• large venues
• live music
• later opening hours
• major events and festivals

Applications also have to meet criteria set by the Government. City Hall has not said how often it expects to use the power, or named any case it has in mind.

Haringey has more of that kind of business than most outer boroughs. Alexandra Palace runs an outdoor concert season under an external event licence that allows up to 75db; its seven summer shows this year drew 46 noise complaints and no breaches, as we reported in September. Nothing in the Mayor’s announcement mentions Ally Pally or any other Haringey venue.

Contested applications in the borough go to the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee, which in October heard the licence review of a Turnpike Lane restaurant and lounge. Hearings like that carry on as before. What changes is that, for the kinds of case listed above, City Hall can now take the decision on after the sub-committee has ruled.

What else City Hall now does

The call-in is the last of several roles the Government has handed to the Mayor. The Mayor’s office lists them:

• Councils, Haringey included, must consult the Mayor when they revise their licensing policies.
• City Hall receives every licensing application in London and can make formal representations to licensing committees.
• The Mayor must publish a London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy, the first there has been.

A draft of that policy went out to public consultation earlier this year. The Mayor “will shortly consider” the responses, his office said, before setting the final policy later this year. The aim, City Hall said, is a licensing system “that is consistent and supportive of London’s culture, hospitality, events and nightlife”.

What does not change for residents

The Mayor’s office said keeping people safe and protecting local communities “will remain at the heart of licensing”. The four licensing objectives stay as they are: preventing crime and disorder, public safety, preventing public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

“Residents will still be able to have their say, the impact on different communities will be considered, and rights of appeal will remain in place,” City Hall said.

That matters in Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Highgate, where most licensing objections come from people living above or beside a bar, restaurant or venue. They can still object to an application to Haringey in the usual way.

What the Mayor said

Sadiq Khan visited a London music venue on 3 November with Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to mark the change.

“Today is a hugely significant moment and marks the beginning of a new era for London’s nightlife,” he said.

“From today, thanks to the Government, I can step in and make decisions on licensing applications of particular importance for our economy, reputation and nightlife, allowing me to back the venues that make our high streets and communities thrive and help cement our city’s nightlife reputation, while keeping people safe and listening to communities.

“I’m looking forward to setting a new direction for our capital’s life at night, creating a more strategic and consistent approach to licensing.”

Angela Rayner said: “Nightlife is about so much more than a good night out. The musicians on stage, the staff behind the bar, the small businesses that depend on them: that’s jobs, that’s growth, and a big part of what makes London the world-famous city it is.

“So, we’re giving the Mayor of London historic new powers over licensing decisions that have the biggest impact on the capital. It’s about backing the venues and events that keep London buzzing.”

What the industry said

London’s nightlife contributes more than £21bn to the capital each year, according to City Hall, which said the sector has faced “inconsistent licensing rules and complex processes”.

Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said the sector already employs half a million Londoners. “I was pleased to lead the Government’s licensing sprint which recommended these changes and it’s encouraging that some of the most significant are being introduced so swiftly,” she said.

Mark Davyd, founder and chief executive of Music Venue Trust, called it “a significant step forward for live music across the capital, offering the opportunity for a consistent, robust, and constructive licensing process”.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “For too long, outdated and fragmented licensing processes have held back investment, innovation and growth across the capital’s night-time economy. The Mayor’s new powers offer a real opportunity to restore confidence, protect our cultural infrastructure and unlock the potential of a sector that is vital to London’s economy, identity and global reputation.”

The Mayor’s office also pointed to his Summer Streets Fund, which put nearly £500,000 into dining and events across London this year, and to the recommendations of his independent Nightlife Taskforce, which covered 10 areas.

Sources

• Mayor of London press release, “Mayor hails new era for London’s nightlife with historic licensing powers”, 3 November 2026.
• London Growth Plan, Greater London Authority.