Section A - licensing
Everyone in Westminster should be confident that our uniquely varied, high quality licenced premises which include restaurants, hotels, clubs and bars operate safely. The council’s statutory licensing function is based on the requirements of The Licensing Act 2003 which relates to the sale of alcohol, the provision of certain entertainment and late-night refreshment.
Further information on licensing in Westminster
The high density of licensed venues in the city and the numerous licensed events such as the Hyde Park concerts or Winter Wonderland makes it vital to consider the current and future impact on our environment and the ways in which damage can be minimised. Venues and event organisers can make a valuable contribution to our city, not only by meeting their regulatory duties, but by following best practice:
- minimising waste
- improving energy efficiency; and
- reducing the traffic on our roads
Plastic waste reduction is a priority. In October 2020 it became illegal, with some exceptions, to sell or supply single use plastics such as straws or drink stirrers. You can still supply and sell single-use straws and drink stirrers made from other materials or reusable alternatives. We encourage venues to consider how all materials and products are sourced and how fixtures and fittings can be reused and recycled. Waste can be minimised by:
- using online menus instead of printed versions, or using recycled materials for printed menus and leaflets
- allowing, or better still encouraging, members of the public to refill water bottles
- training staff on good waste management practices; and
- finding a future for reused and upcycled furnishings and fittings
We invite you to consider sharing innovative practices that might be adopted by other venues.
More information on waste management can be found on the website and the circular economy section of this guidance.
Improving energy efficiency across the city is key to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. Refurbishment and retrofit activities provide an excellent opportunity to improve the thermal performance of buildings and reduce emissions, whether or not planning permission is required. The operational strategy of venues provides many opportunities, including:
- rethinking heat and power sources and decarbonising by moving to electrified sources from renewable energy
- rethinking the lighting and using LEDs and a building management system to optimise efficiency; and
- minimising the use of outdoor heaters (notwithstanding the exceptions to this that are required at present to maintain business operations during the covid-19 pandemic) and, if needed, using energy efficient (electric) options
Please see our further guidance on energy in Section B. [ADD LINK]
The movement of goods and services to support our licensed premises is a significant source of air pollution, congestion and noise nuisance. You can help by:
- developing and implementing freight delivery and servicing plans that prioritise low carbon vehicles, supplier consolidation and local procurement; and
- minimising the quantity of waste collections
Please see our further guidance on air quality and waste management and freight servicing and delivery and odour and noise in Section B.