The Government has announced plans to improve the licensing system, with the aim of cutting red tape and boosting hospitality’s competitiveness.

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The Mayor of London will also be given new powers to review blocked licensing applications – delivering on a recommendation put forward by London’s Night Time Commission, chaired by UKHospitality's Kate Nicholls, to boost the capital's nightlife.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality and chair of the Institute of Licensing, said: "Cutting red tape and improving hospitality's competitiveness is much-needed to unlock our sector's potential to drive socially productive growth and create jobs. A new and improved licensing system that is fit for the 21st century will be a huge boost to the nation's pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, and I’m delighted that this expert group will be leading the review and finding solutions that can unlock the high street’s potential.

“It’s also very encouraging that the Government is delivering on recommendations from the London Night Time Commission to give more powers to the Mayor to review blocked licensing applications. This is an approach that can be rolled out across the country. We have long-maintained that there are aspects of the licensing system that are too restrictive and aren’t flexible enough to adapt to an ever-changing sector.

“Too often, we hear from businesses that are encountering barriers to growth at a local authority level. Not only do structural elements of the system need to change, but so do approaches to licensing in particularly restrictive areas. As our Social Productivity Index shows, foundational sectors like hospitality have the ability to deliver both economically and socially productive growth, equitably across the country. That’s not the case for many of the sectors prioritised by the Industrial Strategy, and I hope this work opens the Government’s eyes as to why its strategy should be broadened to include hospitality.”