London Mayor Sadiq Khan publicly opposed a residents group that stated its intent to block new bars and restaurants in Soho. This opposition comes as the U.K. government prepares to grant Khan new powers this autumn to override local authority licensing decisions.

Many London borough councils currently maintain core hours policies that direct licensing committees to refuse new venue applications past designated times. Westminster council, for instance, refuses new bar and restaurant licenses past 11:30pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends. This council also designates its main nightlife district as a cumulative impact zone, leading to the refusal of all new bar or pub licenses in that area without exceptional circumstances. Hackney council enforces a curfew of 11pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends for new venue licenses. Islington council presumes refusal for venue licenses past 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, and Camden council refuses venue licenses after midnight Monday through Thursday, 12:30am Friday through Saturday, and 11pm on Sundays.

Rupert Power, a London club operator, said, "Realistically, if a show finishes at 10:30pm you're hitting the dancefloor at midnight and lights up at 1am. Twice I have had a later licence refused as it's beyond core hours and would contravene the cumulative impact." The Metropolitan Police frequently objects to late-night licensing applications in London, citing crime concerns.

In contrast, cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham do not enforce blanket restrictions on late-night venue licenses. Leeds generally grants venue licenses until 2am. Sacha Lord, a nightclub founder and former nightlife adviser, said, "It's down to the fact that we know how to have a good time; but it's also down to the approach taken by the council with regards licensing. They understand the importance of a thriving night-time economy and try to work with operators, allowing them the times that they require." Lord added, "I look at other authorities across the UK, for example Westminster, who seem to have an opposite approach. They seem obsessed with limiting hours, limiting outdoor seating and limiting people having fun."