Leading licensing QC launches manifesto for night-time economy

The head of Cornerstone Barristers, Philip Kolvin QC, has issued a manifesto for the development of vibrant, sustainable night time economies.

Launched at the Music Cities Convention in Brighton, Kolvin’s manifesto, which can be viewed here, includes 12 pledges. These are:

1. Every town and city shall have a vision for its night-time economy;

2. Every town and city shall have an identified night-time champion;

3. Every town and city will bring together a partnership of planning and regulatory authorities, operators, entrepreneurs, landowners, residents and users to drive and realise the vision;

4. Every town and city will produce a leisure strategy, to attain the vision for its night-time economy;

5. National and local planning policies shall recognise the value of the night time economy and be oriented to promote and protect it;

6. Every town and city centre will be designed, so far as possible, to enhance the experience of users of the night-time economy;

7. Night-time operators will promote and support voluntary local schemes raising standards of operation and protection;

8. National and local licensing policies shall recognise the value of the night-time economy. Local licensing policies shall aim to promote the vision for the night-time economy, translate the leisure strategy into policy, and advocate regulation by the least intrusive measure consistent with promotion of the licensing objectives;

9. Regulatory action should not be taken before partnership measures have been exhausted, except in urgent cases. Such action should be based on transparent, consistent and agreed evidential standards;

10. The public and private sector must work together to change the perception of town and city centres so as to build the diversity and spending of night-time users;

11. Town and city centres must aim to integrate leisure and other uses so as to promote customer cross-over and create bridges between the day- and night-time economy;

12. The industry will participate in a set of qualifications forming a path of career development for all those working in, regulating or otherwise involved in the night-time economy.

Kolvin said: “Amid the constant debate about whether the leisure economy is over- or under-regulated, it is easy to forget what a vibrant and important leisure culture we have, and how important it is that we cherish and foster it. The manifesto is intended to provoke a discussion about the key principles for doing so.”

The night-time economy is worth an estimated £66bn to the UK economy. It also provides jobs for more than 1.3m people.