London’s jazz scene has responded with dismay to Westminster Council’s denial of a late-hours operating license for a club in Soho.
The Blue Note Jazz franchise, which operates ten renowned venues across the world, applied to Westminster Council for a premises license to operate their venue underneath the Covent Garden Hotel until 1am seven days a week.
However, they were only granted a license to operate until Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, 11.30pm Mondays-Thursdays, and 10.30pm on Sundays, following pushback from the police and residents.
David West, who started a petition to appeal the council’s ruling, said: “I always wondered why London doesn’t have a Blue Note, and now I know why.”
In order to secure a premises license, the applicant must address four statutory objectives, under the Licensing Act 2003, including the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and protection from public nuisance.
Many of the objections from residents and the police force at the council meeting in February sought to cast doubt on Blue Note’s capacity to address these objectives.
One anonymous objector questioned “whether the sale of alcohol is ancillary to live music or indeed the music is ancillary to the alcohol.”
The Metropolitan Police’s objection predicted the Soho venue’s later operating hours would lead to an uptick in crime.
A spokesperson for the Met clarified it is not unusual for the force to raise objections against applications for late-hours operating licenses on the basis of increased crime. However, it is not a blanket policy by the force.
Veterans of London’s jazz scene reacted with ire to the suggestion that a jazz club would cause a localised increase in crime.
Jazz musician Ray Gelato, 63, said: “They think it’s some kind of den of debauchery and drugs.
“Well, I’m sorry, but that side of it died out in the ’30s or ’40s.”
Fellow musician and booker Leo Green, 52, said: “When I read the report about how people were worried about people leaving the premises and being rowdy – they’ve obviously never been to a jazz club.
“If you go to Ronnie Scott’s, for example, and you’re watching someone, if you start talking, you’re told to be quiet.
“People aren’t getting drunk – it’s not that sort of environment.”
Jazz venues prefer later openings as it allows performers – particularly those who have travelled from abroad – to perform multiple sets per evening, so that they can sustain their livelihood.
Historically, it has also allowed for rookie musicians the opportunity to perform after the main band has finished.
Green said: “if you want to end up with the kind of artists who have the ability to fill rooms like the O2 or the Albert Hall or the Palladium, you have to come through the small venues.”
Both Green and Gelato questioned the agency of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who famously stated that he wished to see London become a 24-hour city.
That led to his 2016 appointment of a Night Czar, who stepped down at the end of last year, and the setting up of a Nightlife Taskforce in February.
A spokesperson for the Nightlife Taskforce reiterated the Blue Note Jazz club will be a fantastic addition to the West End’s nightlife.
They added: “City Hall is in touch with the operators to offer any support [they] can.”
In the Lord Mayor’s March 2016 Supplementary Planning Guidance for the Central Activity Zone, it was noted it should be recognised Covent Garden, Soho, and the West End contain the country’s largest concentration of evening activities and are defined in the London Plan as a night-time economy cluster of international importance.
Following Westminster Council’s decision to limit Blue Note’s night-time activities, many jazz musicians questioned how that international importance can feasibly endure.
Blue Note have appealed the council’s ruling, but were unable to comment on it at present.
In a statement, a Met spokesperson said that they support the core hours set out in Westminster council’s licensing policy, and that Blue Note’s application was outside of these hours.
A spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: “Westminster has some of London’s most iconic music venues and we want to continue offering aspiring artists the opportunity to share their passion for music with others. However, it is important we strike a balance between supporting music venues and the needs of residents.
“Every decision made by the licensing sub-committee is determined on their merits and must be mindful to consider the evidence in front of them.
“In this case, the proposed arrangements presented by the applicant as well as the genuine concerns from residents meant the licence was granted subject to the imposed hours and conditions. The committee felt this was necessary and proportionate to uphold the licensing objectives.
“We are in ongoing discussions with the Blue Note Jazz Club to represent the concerns of residents and see how we can support their ambitions for opening a new venue in London, and whether or not additional safeguards can be identified.”
Picture credit: Ionianblue
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