Brighton and Hove puts late night levy proposal on hold

More than 400 pubs, bars and clubs in Brighton and Hove are open until at least 1am – and in more than 70 cases for 24 hours a day.

About 110 licensed premises stay open to 1am, 122 until 2am, 51 until 3am, 18 until 4am, 16 until 5am and 13 until 6am.

The figures formed part of a report to the Brighton and Hove City Council Licensing Committee.

Members were receiving an update about late night levies and early morning restriction orders – measures intended to tackle crime, disorder and nuisance.

A levy affecting premises open until at least 1am could raise more than £4 million a year.

A levy affecting premises open until at least 2am could raise more than £3 million a year.

Given the financial pressures being blamed for the Brighton taxi marshall scheme being stopped – temporarily, according to Sussex Police – the levy (a local tax) was not without its attractions.

Councillor Lizzie Deane said that it was an imperfect scheme.

The committee agreed to consider taking advantage of the legal powers only as a last resort.

The Licensing Committee was meeting at Hove Town Hall as the annual Sussex Beer Festival opened in the same building.