Andy Burnham has blasted council penpushers for trying to ban standing up drinking at pubs. The Prime Minister also vowed to confiscate powers from local authorities trying to restrict customers from standing up while drinking in boozers or ordering at the bar.
No.10’s intervention comes after Westminster Council recommended not allowing “vertical drinking” or ordering at the bar in its new draft licensing policy. The council document recommends pubs apply for new licences to allow only table service.
New pubs in popular nightlife areas including Soho should also call last orders at 10pm to reduce noise and disturbance, it suggests.
But Downing Street said: “Busy pubs full of people talking to each other is not a public nuisance, it is British life, and it is thousands of jobs.
“The Government is devolving new licensing powers to the mayor [of London] to help support pubs and nightlife. Soho did not become world famous by taking last orders early, switching the lights off at 10 o’clock. The Prime Minister encourages local leaders to work with the industry so that pubs can continue to thrive.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan would be allowed to “call in” local council decisions he opposes under the Government’s plans to grant him new powers. He said: “You can’t run a world-famous nightlife district with a village-hall mindset.”
Soho pub and bar owners have also warned the move could kill off West End nightlife. Ellie Eames, of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Licensees are in a position to judge what’s best for both their business, staff and customers.
“It’s always been part of British culture to order pints at the bar without the requirement to remain seated. How else are consumers meant to make the most of wellbeing benefits pubs offer with a ‘vertical drinking’ ban?”
Colin Taylor, who runs the independent Toucan pub in Soho, told the Daily Star: “The council’s proposal goes against everything a pub should be. We have lots of people standing outside our bar during opening hours and so [any change] would damage our business to a great extent”.
Paul Swaddle, the Conservative leader of Westminster City Council, has insisted “there is no plan” to stop “vertical drinking” in his borough. He said the policies are out for consultation, which is due to close on Sunday (August 9).