Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Sheilbh]

Once again torn between my strong conviction that centralisation is a huge problem in Britain and the overwhelming evidence that local communities cannot be trusted with democratic power
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/30/bar-restaurant-licence-challenges-destroying-soho-reputation

Lewis Goodall who wanted to speak to them on his show:

Lewis Goodall
@lewis_goodall
The Soho Society is objecting to *every* new bar/restaurant licence in what is supposed to be the centre of London's nightlife. More planning/licensing insanity.

I asked them to come on my Sunday LBC show: "We will absolutely not be taking questions from journalists". Of course not.
"The Soho Society, a group of residents established in 1972 aimed at "preserving the character of Soho", voted in its AGM on Thursday for a new licensing mandate, meaning it will challenge all new applications for bars and restaurants in the area, including renewals of existing licences. It will also object to any venue that wishes to open beyond "core hours", which Westminster council decrees end at 11pm."

And we wonder why we have a youth unemployment problem.

I'd add the same group also successfully pushed for an end to the covid-era pedestrianisation This is, incidentally, the other side of NIMBYism in the UK - part over planning decisions decided locally but also over licensing decisions. God forbid we have a nightlife economy when we could just hae infinity vape shops and bookies

Edit: Incidentally this is one of the areas where I think the Mayor/Greater London should be able to step in and basically say x area will lean on the side of nightlife/hospitality or y area will take a positive view of office space because they serve from the perspective of Greater London not just for local residents or even the local borough.

[Josquius]

Preserving the character of soho... By blocking bar license renewals.
....
Right.

I've come to the conclusion that Local power is good but not too local.
Like the person who lives next to a field doesn't get special right to block housing there. For every objection raised the authorities should ask a few people elswhere in the county what they think about new housing being built.

[Sheilbh]

If they touch Ronnie Scott's license I will not be responsible for my actions

Also worth noting that even if they're not successfuly this sort of approach causes problems by massively increasing costs and delays. Eg from that article:

The society's methods came under question last year when it objected to a licence for a new gin bar and distillery, claiming it could be a fire hazard. It found an expert who said the gin distillery could cause explosions, but this was refuted by the London fire brigade at the hearing. Though the objection was overturned, the distillery had to shoulder thousands of pounds in legal fees and still has yet to open. The full legal costs to the distillery were £44,000. The Soho Society had to pay £27,000 because it argued it was in a precarious financial position.

I'd argue that if the Society is in a precarious financial position it shouldn't adopt a blanket position of trying to challenge every single license in Soho. And if that is the position they adopt they should suffer the consequences.

[Sheilbh]

I've come to the conclusion that Local power is good but not too local.
Like the person who lives next to a field doesn't get special right to block housing there. For every objection raised the authorities should ask a few people elswhere in the county what they think about new housing being built.

My view on planning applications - for every frivolous objection your area gets put into a ballot for the location of Britain's next small modular nuclear reactor instead

[HVC]

You get 4 rejections a year. Use them wisely.