"We often say London is the creative capital of the world, but what does that mean?
For me it’s something that runs deep – culture is our DNA, and nightlife is a big part of our culture.

The nighttime economy is worth £136.5 billion a year nationally. Every night two million people are out-and-about between 9pm and midnight, and a quarter of us regularly work at night.

But not everything that counts can be counted, and beyond these impressive numbers we know that our night culture shaped our story as a city.

All over the world people are drawn to London’s dynamism and energy, from the grit to the glitter.

Our iconic clubs have sparked new subcultures and our signature cocktails have led the zeitgeist.

We’ve seen Buck's Fizz in the 1920s, and the Vesper Martini that was given to writer Ian Fleming in the 1950s… who then gave it to James Bond. We’ve seen Dick Bradsell’s Espresso Martini in the '80s, that is now a global phenomenon with whole festivals dedicated to it.

From Soho to Hackney Wick, and Peckham to Camden, cocktail culture helps to shape the soundtrack of our city.

But for me cocktails don’t get the recognition they deserve. They bring together artistry, craft and imagination. They have the power to define – or indeed redefine a moment.

Let’s face it - the alchemy of a great night out often starts with a cocktail, which is why London Cocktail Week matters. In this world where we are digitally so connected, but more lonely than ever, it is bringing people together for real human connections.

Starting in 2010, it is now the leading cocktail festival of its kind in the world, with 200 bars involved. It’s the blueprint for copycats in hundreds of cities around the world. A brilliant London innovation, exported to the world, but we know that this success story continues to be hard fought for.

The long-lasting impact of COVID, rising costs, licensing hurdles, staff shortages and mortgage restrictions are just some of the challenges you face.

And at City Hall we are doing all we can to help, and for the Mayor Sadiq Khan the night time economy is a core priority. So I’d like to share just five of the things we’re doing to support this vital industry.

First - licensing reform.
We will soon be piloting new strategic licensing powers for the Mayor.
This will mean the Mayor will give clarity to boroughs and businesses by setting a licensing strategy for London – and he will be able to intervene in licensing decisions that matter.
Not just taking into account the views of local residents, but businesses and communities too.
The idea is to make better decisions; cut red tape; be more transparent and consistent.

The second is the Mayor’s big push for al fresco.
You can eat and drink outside in Paris and Rome so why not London? To kickstart this we have funded a new Summer Streets programme – al fresco dining and drinking in Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch and the West End this summer.

Third, the Mayor has created an independent Nightlife Taskforce, made of experts and frontline business operators. They are working at full speed now, producing recommendations for the Mayor to help London’s nightlife thrive.

Fourth we’re hardwiring nightlife into the system – valuing it and planning for it. The Mayor has protected pubs and clubs in the planning system for the first time and we’re working with London’s boroughs to create their own night-time strategies.

And finally, number five, the bat phone! Otherwise known as our Culture at Risk team offering frontline support from our team at City Hall to more than 1,500 cases since the pandemic. We’ve been supporting nightlife businesses at risk using all the tools we have – strategy, advocacy, convening and campaigning for you and with you.

But I want to close with a huge thank you to you.
For your resilience, your determination and your creativity.

London’s bar owners, operators, staff, creatives and community-builders, who go to work every single night to make this city the best place in the world for a night out.

You’re awesome!
Thank you.”

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Culture and Creative Industries