Government wades into Westminster ‘vertical drinking’ row

A draft Statement of Licensing Policy from Westminster City Council has sparked a row over ‘vertical drinking’ in pubs in central London.

The draft policy, which is under consultation, discourages vertical drinking in favour of table service in a proposal that tightens restrictions on alcohol-led venues in the West End.

The council – which has since denied any plans to “ban drinking while standing up in a Westminster pub” – said the measures are intended to address excessive drunkenness, overcrowding and public nuisance in the West End.

The documents detail measures to “discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol”, as well as the ability to place food and drink orders via table service “in place of an open bar space that caters for high-volume vertical drinking”.

The government has since urged Westminster City Council to “work with” operators.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Busy pubs full of people talking to each other is not a public nuisance, it is British life, and it is thousands of jobs.”

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan – who only last month received new licensing powers allowing him to challenge certain council licensing decisions – also criticised the proposals.

He said on X: “You can’t run a world-famous nightlife district with a village-hall mindset. London’s hospitality and nightlife support jobs, culture and growth. New powers for City Hall will help ensure decisions consider the wider benefits for our city.”

Paul Swaddle, the Conservative leader of Westminster City Council, said: “I want to be straight with people. There is no plan, and never has been, to ban drinking while standing up in a Westminster pub.”

He continued: “Let me be clear about what we’re trying to achieve. This is about safety, not stopping anyone standing at a bar with a pint in their hand. We will never allow Westminster to become a city where people can’t go out and enjoy a drink. 

“Growth is central to everything this administration is doing, and that means backing our hospitality sector, not making things harder for them. We approve well over 98% of licence applications, we’ve just backed a 24-hour licence in the West End and a new pub in Covent Garden, and we’ve launched our own campaign to get people back out enjoying Soho this summer. That’s growth that keeps this city open for business.”

Prime minister Andy Burnham made one of his first plans on entering No 10 in support of pubs, clubs and music venues, with a 20% slash in business rates which is set to come into effect next April.

Earlier this week, Sacha Lord, the former night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, also criticised Westminster City Council for being “the most anti-hospitality council in the UK”.

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