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Friday 16th December, 2005

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West End will lose status as fun centre, says club owner

PETER Stringfellow has warned that the West End will lose its status as the capital’s centre for entertainment unless City Hall changes its policy.
The owner of Stringfellows, the landmark club in Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, believes that the council’s stress area policy, which prevents late night extensions to licences, will drive businesses from the area.
He said: “Twenty-five years ago the West End was allowed one extra hour more than the rest of the country because it was the centre of entertainment and it was recognised internationally.
“Now Westminster Council have brought into play this stress area thing, in Soho.
“They will be setting up economic problems for the West End.
“We are paying astronomical rents and have parking problems and problems with congestion charge.”
He added: “Once they make the West End less of an attraction than other places, these things will just not stand up.
“Businesses at the smaller end have already been harmed by Ken Livingstone’s charges, and now the licensing laws will irrevocably harm bars and clubs in the West End.
“Even if the Conservatives get in, which I think they will, they will not change it so we have to challenge it first.”

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