Wetherspoon boss blasts Soho’s ‘barmy’ vertical drinking crackdown

JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin has blasted Westminster Council’s “barmy” curbs on vertical drinking, which he said are “inhibiting business”. 

Martin, the chairman of Britain’s best-known pub chain, has waded into a row over the Council’s restrictions on so-called “vertical drinking” in Soho and an effective ban on new pubs and bars in the area.

The Conservative-led council sparked significant backlash last month after publishing plans to discourage pub goers from drinking while standing up, instead advising landlords to offer a minimum number of seats and to encourage table service. 

The licensing guidelines, which came into force last Thursday, encourage pubs and bars in Westminster to “reduce the extent of [or] remove opportunities” for vertical drinking. 

Martin, one of the country’s foremost publicans, told City AM that he opposes these curbs.

“I think every so often you read something, and to quote U2 from one of their songs, I just don’t believe the news today,” he said.

“That is completely barmy. There’s a lot of people who do desk jobs. When they go out, they just want to stand up for an hour or two because they’ve been sitting on their backside all day. 

“So the idea that you say to pubs ‘you’ve got to sit down’ is mad. It also contravenes NHS advice [which] says to people, especially as they get older, don’t sit down too much. Stand up.”

Tim Barnes, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said: “There are not, and never have been, any plans to ban vertical drinking in Westminster. Your right to stand at the bar of the Dog and Duck with a pint remains sacrosanct.”

The local authority has resolved to take steps to “better explain” terms like ‘vertical drinking’ he added. 

But the council’s new licensing policy, which has now come into force, has enacted the proposed curbs on vertical drinking. 

It says: “When considering new licence applications, discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and enjoy a drink and order food by table service in place of open bar space that caters for high volume vertical drinking.”

Wetherspoon’s Martin said the curbs are an example of excessive regulation weighing on Britain’s pubs. He said: “My advice to Westminster Council is the same as Ronald Reagan’s advice for governments: ‘don’t just do something, stand there’.”

Pub rules ‘inhibiting business’

Westminster Council’s new licensing policy also includes an effective ban on new pubs and bars in the area, which includes Soho – famed around the world for its nightlife. 

The guidance sets out a presumption of refusal for planning applications for new pubs and bars in the West End of London, saying that they will only be approved “where applicants can demonstrate exceptional circumstances”. 

Martin said: “I think it’s too restrictive in Westminster now, so I think it’s inhibiting business. I think it’s better for the economy, better for pubs, if licensing laws are liberalized somewhat, as they have been in many parts of the country.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan has previously criticised Westminster Council for the new curbs, accusing local policymakers of “breathtaking arrogance”. 

He said: “By ignoring all those who oppose their plans and viewing hospitality in the heart of our capital city as a problem, they are letting down businesses, residents and our economy. They would rather see nightlife die than thrive.”

Some 81 per cent of respondents to a council consultation disagreed with its effective ban on new pubs and bars in the West End.

Westminster’s Barnes added: “The reality is there are serious issues acting as a drag on our hospitality industry.  A lack of investment in policing has left the Met objecting to many licensing applications over public safety concerns. 

“People struggle to get home from a night out when late night bus routes have been cut and overnight Tube services are non-existent during the week.   

“We’ve spent the summer taking feedback from residents, the hospitality industry and visitors. We’ll take this on board and do our bit to support the hospitality industry, but we need the Mayor’s team to fund the services which make London a 24-hour city.”