Late-night crisis: industry warns of 'ever-mounting pressure' on licensees

Miller celebrated the news that Hackney council has performed a dramatic U-turn and cancelled a licensing consultation that would have prevented licences from being granted in areas of the borough but added that the fight to save the UK’s late night economy is far from over.

“We welcome the news that Hackney Council is to re-adopt its current licensing policy for the time being. We should be encouraged by the enormous response from local residents, businesses of all kinds and licensed premises that wanted to have their voices heard.

“However, the pressures on existing licensees are ever-mounting and much remains to be done. The night time economy is the lifeblood of London and Britain and the value of it, both economically and culturally, should be appreciated and recognised by all. Stop penalising and start promoting the night time industries. ”

Hackney council cancelled the consultation, which would have also forced new venues to close at 11pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends, after finding ‘errors’ in the consultation document.

The plans drew heated protests from campaigners who argued the proposal would take Hackney back to ‘1980’s opening times’ and failed to keep pace with modern London.

Fears for the future of the borough’s venues have not completely disappeared, as the consultation has been rescheduled for 2016.

Dan Beaumont, who runs the Dalston Superstore, added: “It’s totally bizarre Hackney council has failed to understand the damage this policy will do, without solving any of the problems they complain about.

“With a new consultation due next year, the threat to Hackney has not yet gone away. We want the council to celebrate the fact that most innovative and exciting new venues chose Hackney, rather than deliberately driving them away.”