Businesses and customers oppose late-night tax in London

Trade association UKHospitality and local businesses have gathered signatures opposing the introduction of a new tax on pubs, bars and late-night venues open after midnight.

The petition will be delivered to Southwark Council today (17 July) ahead of a planned meeting where the levy will be discussed.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive, UKHospitality, said: “The number of people, businesses, customers and local residents, who have come together to oppose this new tax shows how strongly they feel about it. It also highlights how wrong Southwark Council is to even consider this unsuitable and dangerous new tax. The levy has already been dismissed by the House of Lords Committee on Licensing which recommended it be abolished.”

Keith Knowles, Beds and Bars, CEO, added: “Southwark is a lively and vibrant area and venues, particularly those in and around London Bridge, are renowned as some of the most exciting in the country. “We have invested lots of time, money and energy over the years, along with other businesses, to help regenerate the area. After all that we have contributed, it is devastating to see the Council decide just to foist another tax on us.”

UKHospitality works with over 700 companies, operating around 65,000 venues in a sector that employs 3.2 million people.