London’s Mayor Can Now Intervene in Club Licences. Why Can’t Dublin or Belfast?

As London grants its mayor greater control over nightlife licensing, how do the powers of its nightlife representatives in Dublin and Belfast compare?

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been granted new powers over the capital’s nightlife licensing, allowing him to intervene in applications for major venues, festivals and events deemed strategically important.

The changes mark a contrast with Dublin and Belfast, where dedicated Night-Time Economy representatives can advocate for their respective nightlife sectors and influence policy, but have no formal authority to determine licensing outcomes or override local council decisions.

Announced on November 3 during a visit to Blue Note London, the changes allow Khan to review and make final decisions on licensing applications previously handled by individual borough councils. The aim is to address inconsistencies across London’s licensing system and create a more coordinated approach to supporting its nightlife and hospitality sectors.

“These new licensing powers create an opportunity to further champion London’s amazing venues,” Khan said, adding that he wants to establish “a more strategic and consistent approach to licensing”.

Under the new arrangements, City Hall will receive all licensing applications, while boroughs must consult the mayor when revising their licensing policies. This gives Khan a direct role in decisions affecting London’s clubs, music venues and late-night events, rather than simply advocating for the sector.

Elsewhere, Dublin’s Night-Time Economy Advisor Ray O’Donoghue and Belfast’s Night Czar Michael Stewart operate under a different model. Both positions focus on representing their respective night-time industries, bringing together businesses and public agencies, and advocating for improvements to areas including licensing, transport, safety and cultural programming. Neither currently has the authority to intervene in licensing applications or overrule local council decisions.

The economic contribution of their respective night-time industries is substantial. Belfast’s night-time economy generates an estimated £802 million in gross value added annually and supports more than 26,000 jobs. Across Northern Ireland, the wider sector contributes between £2.8 billion and £3.7 billion and supports between 101,000 and 114,000 full-time equivalent jobs, according to research published in 2026.

London’s nightlife contributes more than £21 billion to its economy annually, while Ireland’s night-time industries are estimated to generate €3 billion in revenue and employ approximately 40,000 people nationwide.

While London, Dublin and Belfast have all established dedicated approaches to representing their night-time economies, the latest changes in the English capital introduce a different level of political involvement. Khan’s new powers give him a direct say in major licensing decisions, while representatives in Dublin and Belfast remain limited to advocacy and coordination, with no equivalent authority to influence licensing outcomes. This leaves their respective nightlife industries without the same level of direct political representation in decisions shaping their future.