Soho's late-night culture is reportedly facing challenges, with a notable decrease in new licences being granted. According to the Home Office, only 16 of 41 licence applications were approved in the West End between 2023 and 2024. This period also saw an 80 per cent reduction in applications for new pubs and wine bars between 2022 and 2024.
Lesley Lewis, who has run the French House pub for 37 years, expressed concern that Soho's late-night culture is being erased. She noted that while places used to be open until 3am, hours are now more restricted. Imran, a bartender at Trisha's, also voiced worries about the increasing number of chain establishments in Soho, suggesting they are diminishing the area's unique character.
Dave, a bartender at The Pink Flamingo, observed a shift in customer behaviour, with more people opting to eat out rather than dance late into the night. He mentioned that his bar, previously the main earner, now sees fewer young people on the dance floor, attributing this to a cycle of rising prices and declining patrons.