Unfair balance in West End, Glendola chief claims

A leading pub operator has spoken out about the imbalance between the needs of businesses and residents in London's West End.

Speaking at a debate on the capital's leisure industry, Alex Salussolia, managing director of Glendola Leisure, said: "There's a disconnect between balancing the needs of residents and businesses. London is the central driver of the UK economy and it has to be a showcase.

"Businesses do not have a vote, we are totally ignored when it comes to the political process."

Answering the main question of the evening of whether the London leisure industry was out of control, he added: "No, it's not. There are an awful lot of controls and they are controlling what would be a bright and more competitive market if they didn't exist."

Westminster City Council currently operates a Stress Area policy within the West End, in which an application for extended hours will be refused unless there are "exceptional" circumstances.

But Glenys Roberts, a Westminster City councillor for the West End ward, who lives in Central London said: "The industry is completely out of control. It's hard to get a good night's sleep in Central London."

She later added, however: "We are learning how to live with and enforce the Licensing Act and make recommendations to improve it. We are at the beginning of a steep learning curve like everybody else."

Cllr Roberts also questioned the need for the number of pubs, bars and restaurant across the West End, arguing there should more spaces dedicated to "downtime", during the event held by the Restaurant Property Advisors Society.

The panel, which included restauranteur Antonio Carluccio and John Dale, chief inspector of Westminster Central police, also discussed the issue of the capital's transport infrastructure and the lack of a system to cope with masses of people late at night.

It was later agreed that partnership between businesses, the police and local authorities was the key to addressing alcohol-related issues.

Salussolia added: "The trade feels like its demonised, but it's actually part of the solution, not part of the problem."