Sadiq Khan announces Philip Kolvin QC as chair of Night Time Commission
The mayor has picked a licensing expert who acted on behalf of Fabric nightclub to chair his Night Time Commission.
Lawyer Philip Kolvin QC will take the reins of a revamped Night Time Commission that'll work alongside newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé.
Kolvin is head of Cornerstone Barristers and a patron, and past chairman, of the Institute of Licensing. He's also on the board of the Night Time Industries Association.
Read more: Rave on: Fabric is reopening
He said: "As the capital grows, we must plan for a growing night-time economy for the whole of Greater London – something that can only be achieved through proper partnerships with stakeholders, strategic planning, and investment in infrastructure."
Fabric nightclub, a renowned venue in Farringdon, was allowed to reopen after Islington council agreed to strict new licensing conditions, including an over-19s policy and ID scanners at entry to the venue.
It had been stripped of its licence earlier in the year and risked permanent closure after the drug-related deaths of two teenagers.
Kolvin acted on behalf of Fabric and helped secure an agreement between the venue and the council, after the club put forward 32 new conditions to prevent drug abuse.
He will take up the new role as Night Time Commission chair on 9 January and help the mayor's night tsar with the aim of transforming London into a 24-hour city.
Read more: Sadiq Khan has named London's first night czar
The Commission was created to review the capital's night-time economy and help it flourish. Recent research found that the night-time economy contributed £26.3bn to London's annual GDP and it's expected to rise to £28.3bn by 2029.
But, since 2008, the capital has lost 50 per cent of its nightclubs and 40 per cent of its live music venues.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said that with the loss of so many clubs and venues in London "we cannot afford to be complacent".
"Working alongside my newly-appointed night czar Amy Lamé, Philip’s expert knowledge in the field of licensing, regulation and policy will be crucial in ensuring that our live music venues and nightclubs are protected from closure and that they are recognised as a distinctive part of our cultural heritage," Khan said.