The truth about Soho’s ‘vertical drinking’ scandal
Is standing up at the pub about to be banned? Or is that just what the liberal media would have you believe?
According to an article in The Londoner published today, Westminster Council has moved to correct false and misleading media coverage claiming it plans to ban "vertical drinking," standing up with a pint, in Soho's pubs and bars. The controversy erupted after the Guardian ran a story alleging the council was introducing a ban on drinking while standing, a claim swiftly amplified across national front pages, including a Metro headline suggesting "sitting room only" would soon be enforced at pubs.
The Londoner reports that Cllr Tim Barnes, Conservative councillor for the West End ward and cabinet member for growth and planning, firmly rejected the story as untrue, accusing the journalist behind it of pursuing an agenda. Barnes explained to The Londoner that the wording being quoted in headlines is not a new Westminster policy at all, but language carried over almost word-for-word from licensing guidelines first published back in 2021. Crucially, he confirmed it has no bearing whatsoever on venues that already hold a licence, telling the publication, "we couldn't change that if you wanted to," and stressing the council has no power to retroactively alter existing licensing terms even if it wanted to.
In the article, Barnes placed the guidance in its proper legal context, pointing out that Westminster, like every council in the country, is legally required under the Licensing Act 2003 to manage the impact of high concentrations of pubs, bars and clubs in busy areas such as Soho's cumulative impact zone. He noted that no other borough in the country has anywhere near the density of drinking venues found in Westminster, which is why the council must maintain a clear framework for how new licence applications are assessed in the area.
The Londoner also reports that, far from suggesting Soho's nightlife is under threat, Barnes highlighted the recent opening of the Lady, a new pub on Bedford Street from the team behind the Devonshire, as evidence the West End's drinking culture remains active, calling it proof that new venues can and do open in the area. He also pointed to the council's ongoing efforts to support a "continental cafe style" culture in Soho, encouraging outdoor seating and dining as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, the area's traditional pub culture.
The article notes that Barnes's intervention came as Westminster council officers were reported to have privately sympathised with residents and business owners over the confusion, with licensing staff themselves reportedly acknowledging that the rules, as commonly understood, don't reflect how pubs actually operate. The episode, as covered by The Londoner, underlines the council's broader position that it is applying long-standing, legally mandated licensing principles consistently, rather than introducing any new restriction on how Londoners enjoy a drink in Soho.
You can read the article by Peter Carlyon and Andrew Kersley in The Londoner in full here.
