Sadiq Khan has branded Soho campaigners rallying against new pubs, clubs and bars opening in central London “silly” as the row over the capital’s nightlife escalates.
The Mayor of London took a fresh swipe at the Soho Society on Thursday after the group vowed to object to every new venue licence in the area.
“Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and complaining about the museums,” he tweeted on Thursday.
“Or moving to Hackney and grumbling about creatives. Living in Richmond and hating green space. It's all getting a bit silly, isn't it?”
Complaining about nightlife when you *checks notes* choose to live in Soho is like living in South Kensington and complaining about the museums.⁰⁰Or moving to Hackney and grumbling about creatives. Living in Richmond and hating green space. ⁰⁰It's all getting a bit silly,…
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 11, 2026
The Soho Society last month voted to oppose all new bar and restaurant licencing applications in the area, including applications seeking opening hours beyond Westminster Council's 11pm "core hours" policy.
Soho Society members argue that central London has become too saturated with nightlife venues and that there is not enough policing to deal with later opening hours.
But restaurant and bar owners have previously hit out at the plans to challenge every new licence in the area.
They warned the move could “destroy Soho’s reputation” as one of the largest entertainment districts in the capital.
Sir Sadiq has previously hit out at “NIMBY” Westminster councillors who he accused of thwarting nighttime economy plans.
The Mayor suggested the decline of Oxford Street had also been down to the same local politicians blocking proposals because a handful of local residents objected.
“You've got NIMBY councillors on either side of that street saying no to any progress", he said, adding that he was “incredibly frustrated” the situation appeared to be the same for the nighttime economy.
"That's why I asked the government to allow me to take up Oxford Street and pedestrianise it, because the NIMBY council refused to make progress on that street,” Sir Sadiq said.
“And the same goes for the nighttime economy. I'm incredibly frustrated. I've got five tubes open at the night time, I've got record numbers of night buses.
“They’ve got nowhere to go to because you can't go to a decent club or a decent bar after a certain time of the day.”
