Government announces plan to reform licensing – what this means for businesses in the West End

10 October 2025: The Government has opened a call for evidence to reform the licensing system — a step towards a more modern, proportionate and enabling framework.

The proposed reforms aim to reduce administrative burdens on businesses while maintaining strong safeguards for public safety, crime prevention and public health.

This development represents a significant step towards HOLBA’s desire to see licensing policy actively support growth, innovation, and world-class management of the West End experience economy.

What we know so far about the Government’s plans

The call for evidence focuses on the ‘on-trade’, including pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, and other venues licensed under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Government’s ambition is to modernise and streamline the current system, which many view as outdated and inconsistent across local authorities.

Key objectives include:

• Reducing administrative burdens for businesses
• Improving consistency across local authorities
• Integrating licensing with related regimes – for example, currently, planning permission can prove problematic for licensing applications, if the use of land has been agreed
• Encouraging innovation and investment in the experience and night-time economy

Proposals under consideration include:

• A national licensing policy framework
• A licensing condition amnesty – a process which looks at older existing licenses that have become outdated in the modern world
• Continued transition towards online licensing systems

The Government intends to shape reform through broad stakeholder engagement, with this call for evidence marking the first step in that process.

Why licensing reform matters for the West End

Reform of the licensing regime could:

• Unlock business growth and innovation across hospitality and culture
• Enhance fairness and transparency in decision-making
• Encourage more investment in London’s evening and night-time economy
• Support tourism
• Strategic initiatives such as zoning, tourism promotion, and training for licensing officers are also expected to underpin the reforms and ensure effective delivery

Submission closes at midday on 6 November 2025. HOLBA will be responding to the call for evidence. Please get in touch with our Head of Public Affairs, Antonia Stratford at antonia@holba.london if you would like to contribute or have any questions.