Mayor’s Night Time Enterprise Zones reinvigorate London’s high streets

• New report shows that the Mayor’s Night Time Enterprise Zones have helped to boost the capital’s high streets after dark, supporting the local economy
• Bromley, Lambeth and Greenwich’s varied programmes of events and extended opening hours saw increased spending with local businesses by up to 70 per cent
• Boroughs across the capital urged to use the success of the zones to help increase and diversify the night time offer of their high streets and support workers at night
• Three areas of London achieved a huge increase in visitors and spending, in a major boost for local businesses, thanks to Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Night Time Enterprise Zones programme

A new City Hall report reveals that Bromley, Vauxhall and Woolwich high streets saw spending increase by up to 70 per cent after they became the Mayor’s Night Time Enterprise Zones last year.

The Mayor and Night Czar Amy Lamé announced the £500,000 Night Time Enterprise Zones programme in 2022 to revitalise high streets after 6pm. London’s high streets were hit hard by the impact of the pandemic, and continue to struggle with the spiralling costs of operating and the cost-of-living crisis.

Bromley, Lambeth and Greenwich each received a £130,000 grant from City Hall to improve the offer of their high streets at night, by experimenting with new ways to boost activity and business after 6pm. Throughout 2023, the boroughs used the funding to host a wide variety of events, extend opening hours, support businesses and night workers, and increase safety.

• Today’s report – Night Time Enterprise Zones Findings from Bromley, Vauxhall and Woolwich – reveal:
• 56 events took place across the three zones drawing people to the high street. This included the Library Lates event in Bromley which attracted 3,000 people, Queermas makers market in Vauxhall which 1,800 people attended and more than 4,000 attendees at the Royal Arsenal Riverside Summer Festival in Woolwich
• 65 businesses extended their opening hours during the events – which increased the average local spend by up to 70 per cent between 6pm and 9pm compared to the same dates in 2022.
• Over 69 per cent of people surveyed said they felt safer during events and the majority of people surveyed felt more positive about their area **

The programme created new partnerships and networks within the areas, with 646 businesses engaged.

Bromley’s programme included a series of ‘BR1 Lates’ events that brought music, a silent disco, street food, sports and wellbeing and interactive light displays to the high street and nearby spaces like Bromley library. This was alongside a programme offering guidance for businesses operating in the evening, improved lighting and The Umbrella Project which raised awareness about neurodiversity.

Lambeth hosted a range of ‘VauxhALL Night’ events, which featured cinema and karaoke, night food and art markets and Black History Month events. They transformed arches, tunnels, disused streets and a city farm at night. More than 400 businesses joined a night time business forum, nine Safe Havens for women, girls and vulnerable people were created and 10 new Lambeth Allies venues, providing safe spaces for LGBTQI+ people.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich organised a series of ‘Woolwich Lates’ events, including family friendly activities in General Gordon Square, open mic nights and sport during the school holidays, and a culture trail showcased new artworks hosted by local businesses. A Night Worker Handbook was also devised to support night workers with advice about welfare rights, health and fitness and cost of living information.

Each borough is committed to continuing to promote their high streets as night, with plans for new lighting schemes, night markets, artworks, safe havens and business forums to become permanent improvements. The work will also be used to develop their new night time strategies in the boroughs, and the Mayor and Night Czar will be using the findings to encourage other boroughs to increase and diversify the night time offer of their high streets.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that my Night Time Enterprise Zone programme has helped to boost high streets in Bromley, Vauxhall and Woolwich so dramatically. Our high streets are at the heart of our communities but they have been struggling due to the rising cost of doing business and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as the lasting impact of the pandemic. This programme shows that by taking a creative approach and offering more to local people after 6pm there can be far reaching benefits. I’m delighted that these boroughs will be building on their success and we will continue to work with councils, communities and businesses to help pioneer better ways of living, working and doing business at night, as we build a better London for everyone.” 

Amy Lamé, London Night Czar, said: “Our capital comes alive at night, but all too often our high streets are left behind and those who work at night do not get the support they need. That’s why we established our Night Time Enterprise Zones programme – and it’s fantastic that Bromley, Greenwich and Lambeth have proven that with the right support our high streets can be transformed and the capital more accessible, inclusive and welcoming after 6pm.”

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, Bear, Bromley Council, said: “Bromley’s selection as a Night Time Enterprise Zone helped Bromley progress its plans to create a more vibrant night time economy.  The series of BR1 Lates events hosted in Bromley Town Centre throughout 2023 were tremendously successful, with attendance exceeding expectations. It is clear that there is an appetite both amongst residents and local businesses for more activity in our high streets in the evening and we will be looking to build on the momentum created by the BR1 Lates events across the borough in 2024."

Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, Greenwich Council, said: “In 2023, almost 15,000 people got involved in Woolwich Lates, our wonderful programme of free events, which we delivered with the support of the Mayor of London’s Night Time Enterprise Zone and by partnering with local organisations, without whom the project wouldn’t have been possible. 

"Securing the Night Time Enterprise Zone status for Woolwich was pivotal in our work to ensure our town centres and high streets are vibrant places that meet the needs of local people, and the programme showed what is possible for Woolwich after 6pm. From electrifying street theatre, circus and musical performances, to group sport and fitness activities, food markets and even a giant mechanical puppet parade, the programme enlivened our town centre and people of all ages got stuck in. 

"We’re delighted that 38% of local businesses reported that they served either more or different customers during events. We’re looking forward to continuing this work with our partners to make Woolwich a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive place that meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors”. 

Councillor Claire Holland, the Leader of Lambeth Council, said: “The Vauxhall Night Time Enterprise Zone has been a fantastic opportunity to support local nighttime businesses in Vauxhall and celebrate our diverse communities, particularly our Portuguese-speaking, LGBTQI+ and Black communities in the area.

“We look forward to expanding the focus to the whole borough through our Night Time Strategy, which will help us and our partners grow an inclusive, equitable and engaging nighttime offer in all of Lambeth’s town centres.”