Westminster Council Proposes Ban on Standing in Soho and West End Pubs
Draft licensing policy would end bar ordering and block new pubs in cumulative impact zone
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Westminster Council has proposed new licensing rules that would end standing in pubs and require table service only in Soho and the West End. The draft policy, published on 6 August 2026, also seeks to block new pub and bar openings in an area the council describes as already saturated with nightlife.
The policy targets what it calls "vertical drinking", standing at the bar or in groups, by recommending that venues "discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating". It states that alcohol and food should be sold "by waiter or waitress service only", replacing open bar areas.
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Council defends policy as crowd management
Tim Barnes, Westminster Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for growth and planning, said the policy aims to reduce pavement overcrowding and public disturbance. He told *The Guardian* that the council wants "people to go out in the West End and have a good time" but must manage customer behaviour to prevent disruption.
The cumulative impact zone, where new pub and bar applications would normally be refused, covers Soho and large parts of the West End. The policy states that fast-food outlets and venues offering music or dancing would also face automatic refusal in this area. Barnes said the council assesses each application individually and that new venues still open under the current rules.
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Mayor and businesses criticise restrictions
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has called the policy "restrictive and anti-growth". A spokesperson for Khan said the rules "are stacked against" hospitality venues at a time when they need support. The mayor is set to gain powers later this year to "call in" local licensing decisions, allowing him to intervene in cases he deems harmful to London’s nightlife.
Vertical drinking is also social drinking, allowing people to mix and socialise as they wish, rather than being confined to their predetermined groups. So this is asking the traditional pub not to behave as a traditional pub.
Philip Kolvin KC, licensing lawyer
Business groups and licensing experts have warned that the policy could damage pub culture. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said standing in pubs is a long-standing British tradition that allows people to meet friends and enjoy the atmosphere. He added that reducing standing space would lower capacity, increase costs, and limit flexibility for struggling businesses.
Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s night-time adviser, called Westminster Council "the most anti-hospitality council in the UK". He compared the proposed rules to Covid-era restrictions, saying they would prevent customers from ordering at the bar.
Local groups push back against new venues
The Soho Society, a residents’ group founded in 1972, has voted to challenge all new bar and restaurant applications in the area. The group will also object to venues seeking to extend their opening hours beyond Westminster Council’s "core hours", which end between 10:30pm and midnight depending on the day and business type.
*The Guardian* reported that the Soho Society receives funding from Westminster Council, though the council has not commented on the group’s stance. The society’s new licensing mandate was agreed at its annual general meeting earlier this summer.
What happens next
The draft licensing policy is open for public consultation. Residents, businesses, and visitors can submit responses before the council finalises the rules. The mayor’s new powers to intervene in local licensing decisions are expected to take effect later this year, following secondary legislation in Westminster.
Questions this report answers
+What does Westminster Council’s new licensing policy propose?
The policy would ban standing in pubs and require table service only in Soho and the West End. It also seeks to refuse new pub and bar applications in the cumulative impact zone, which covers most of the area. The council says this aims to reduce overcrowding and public disturbance.
+Who can respond to the draft policy and how?
Residents, businesses, and visitors to Westminster can submit responses during the public consultation period. The council has not yet announced a deadline for submissions, but the policy will be finalised after the consultation closes.
+Why has the mayor of London criticised the policy?
Sadiq Khan has called the policy restrictive and anti-growth, arguing it harms hospitality venues at a time when they need support. He will gain powers later this year to intervene in local licensing decisions, allowing him to challenge policies he believes damage London’s nightlife.
+What is the cumulative impact zone?
The cumulative impact zone is an area in Westminster where the council says there is already a high concentration of nightlife venues. It covers Soho and large parts of the West End. The council’s draft policy states it will normally refuse new pub, bar, and fast-food applications in this zone.
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