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Westminster Council draft to curb standing drinking in Soho pubs
Westminster City Council has released a draft licensing policy that seeks to discourage "vertical drinking" – drinking while standing – in Soho and the West End. The proposal encourages venues to provide more seating, adopt table service and limit open‑bar spaces in order to reduce noise, overcrowding and excessive drunkenness. The council says the measures are not a ban on standing, but a safety‑focused guidance for new licence applications, and the draft is open for public consultation until 9 August 2026.
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from hospitality groups, pub owners and senior politicians. Mayor Sadiq Khan called the proposals "anti‑growth" and harmful to London's nightlife, while Downing Street, speaking for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, defended pubs as "British life" and thousands of jobs. Council leader Paul Swaddle reiterated that the policy does not prohibit standing, but aims to manage crowding and protect residents. The draft also includes a provision to give the Mayor new powers to intervene in licensing decisions.
Industry bodies warn the changes could increase operating costs, reduce venue capacity and threaten the traditional pub culture that underpins much of London's night‑time economy.
Entities
Andy Burnham · Lesley Lewis · Night Time Industries Association · Paul Swaddle · Sadiq Khan · Sir Sadiq Khan · Soho · West End · Westminster City Council · Westminster Council
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Critics say the measures could reduce venue capacity, increase costs and ‘sanitise’ Soho. www.standard.co.uk · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · www.dailystar.co.uk
- [● 7 SOURCES] There is no plan to ban standing while drinking in pubs. www.standard.co.uk · www.theguardian.com · www.independent.co.uk · www.westminster.gov.uk · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Downing Street, speaking for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, defended pubs as part of British life and thousands of jobs. www.standard.co.uk · www.theguardian.com · metro.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · abc17news.com · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The council plans to give the Mayor new powers to intervene in licensing decisions. www.theguardian.com · metro.co.uk · www.standard.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · abc17news.com · +2 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Mayor of London Sadiq Khan criticised the proposals as anti‑growth and harmful to nightlife. www.standard.co.uk · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · www.theguardian.com · www.independent.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · +4 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Westminster City Council drafted a licensing policy that seeks to discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and have www.standard.co.uk · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · londonlovesbusiness.com · www.bbc.co.uk · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The draft policy gives greater weight to licence applications that provide more seating and table service. www.standard.co.uk · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · www.theguardian.com · www.bbc.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The draft policy is open for public consultation until 9 August 2026. www.eurovizyon.co.uk · www.independent.co.uk · www.bbc.co.uk · www.standard.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · +4 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The policy aims to discourage excessive drunkenness by encouraging seated drinking. www.standard.co.uk · mymotherlode.com · www.eurovizyon.co.uk · abc17news.com · www.mylondon.news · +2 more