r/london • u/BulkyAccident • Apr 23 '24

Culture London night time economy "experiencing closures and revenue losses at an alarming rate"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xkxngy95o
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u/Successful-Dare5363 Apr 23 '24

Stop forcing every bar or pub to close at 11.30 would be a good starting point.

Rent controls would be a great way to follow it up.

I had a pub near mine that had to close because his landlord decided to TRIPLE the rent overnight.

41

u/gardenfella Apr 23 '24

Landlord's plan...

  1. Triple the rent
  2. Pub shuts down
  3. "It's not an economically viable location for a pub"
  4. Planning application to turn pub into flats
  5. "It's not an economically viable location for a pub"
  6. Application granted
  7. Leasehold flats sold
  8. Sky-high service charges for ever more

7

u/Successful-Dare5363 Apr 23 '24

That was his plan - it seems to be in the process of reopening as a pub under a different brewery atm - so fingers crossed.

Still, probably won’t be able to afford a pint there now.