The formation of the group follows the resignation of night czar Amy Lamé
Amy Lamé, who spent eight years in the role of night czar and who was tasked with making sure London flourished as a 24-hour city by championing nightlife and safeguarding venues, stepped down from the position at the end of October last year. Given the number of closures in London during her tenure and the size of her salary (it rose to £132,846 in 2024), she attracted a lot of criticism for her work.
Instead of directly replacing her, the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has created a new independent Nightlife Taskforce to “examine and address the issues facing the industries, and provide recommendations on how to ensure the night-time economy can thrive” as per a statement released by City Hall. The group is also expected to decide whether a new night czar should be appointed or the role should be abolished.
The group, which’ll meet regularly over the next six months, is made up of eleven members, including its chair Cameron Leslie, Co-founder and Director of fabric; Nathanael Williams, Founder of Colour Factory; Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality; Nadine Noor, Founder of Pxssy Palace; Michael Kill, CEO of Night Time Industries Association (NTIA); Alice Hoffmann-Fuller, consultant and former Art Director and Head of Operations at Corsica Studios; and Sam Spencer, Head of Operations at Broadwick Live.
According to the NTIA in January, there’s been a 32.7% decrease in the number of nightclubs across the UK between March 2020 and November 2024. Last year other organisations, including the Soho Business Alliance and the Heart of London Business Alliance, also raised concerns about the effects that rising costs, strict licensing laws and issues with infrastructure and crime were having on the city’s venues, so it’s clear that the Taskforce has its work cut out.
Speaking about the formation of the group, Khan has said,”London’s nightlife industries are vital to the success of our capital, but, as with other cities across the country, they have faced a huge range of challenges in recent years. The rising cost of living and operational costs, shifts in consumer behaviour, staffing shortages and licensing issues have all been hitting businesses hard. I’m determined to do all I can to work alongside our night-time industries, which is why I’ve brought together this independent taskforce of experts to examine and address the opportunities and issues facing the industry. Their expertise and unparalleled knowledge garnered from years of working across a range of night-time industries will help to inform and develop our collective efforts to support nightlife, as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
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