Blanket ban on new bars and restaurants in Covent Garden?

Recent (inaccurate and misleading) press coverage in a major London newspaper stated that Westminster City Council is considering banning new bars and restaurants in Covent Garden and Soho.

The truth is that Westminster, after having permitted almost limitless growth over the past 15 years, has realised that the special character of the West End of London is changing for the worse, in many cases. The proliferation of bars, restaurants, pubs, night-clubs and places of late-night entertainment has led to a level of 'saturation' of food & drink premises (A3 use) in most parts of Covent Garden and Soho. This has gradually resulted in excessive noise, disturbance, litter and overcrowding and a commensurate impact on the quality of life of the many people who live in the West End. More than 12,000 people live in Covent Garden and Soho, all of whom need a few hours of unbroken sleep to survive.

The proposals under consideration by the City Council look at 3 options:
1. creating 'quieter enclaves' in streets that are not yet dominated by A3 uses - this would prevent the spread of these uses to streets of a quieter character, which will safeguard the amenity of residents in these streets; the Council's preferred option, it seems.
2. judging each application for new A3 use on its merits - this option is likely to result in the spread of A3 uses to quieter streets, although streets that already have a high concentration of food & drink outlets will not 'gain' any more A3 uses.
3. designating the whole of Covent Garden and Soho as 'Stress Areas' where there will be a complete ban on additional A3 use - this is likely to be the favourite option of residents, but Westminster recognises that this would be difficult to defend given the "...entertainment character and function of Covent Garden and Soho in general...".

It is true that Westminster has been under pressure from residents to bring the never-ending stream of new 'super bars', 'flagship restaurants' and clubs to a halt, but commercial interests are beginning to recognise the over-saturation too. More and more shops, cafés, theatres and office owners are beginning to realise they too are paying the price for late-night activity on the streets: urine, vomit, litter, drug dealing and drug abuse are having a negative effect on all parts of the West End community.

Westminster City Council itself favours option 1 (above). Far from being "draconian" (typical property developers' speak) these proposals will perhaps enable the City Council to regain control of the heart of the 'coolest' and 'hippest' city on earth and to preserve it for the enjoyment of the many millions of visitors each year, before it gradually develops into one gigantic late-night food, drink and entertainment ghetto. If London is a world class city, its heart had better be kept healthy. Cool Britannia - now or never.

If you have a strong stomach (and are not intending to have something to eat shortly) you may wish to have a look at our Revellers' Delight gallery - the sad result of over indulgence in alcoholic beverages other than shandy... Revellers' Delight Pt 1, Revellers' Delight 2

 

[ Home | About | Advice | Cartoons | Contact | Gallery | Handbook | Links | News | Newsletters | Sponsors ]

Web site developed by Liam Delahunty of Mega Products Ltd.