London’s night czar, Amy Lamé, to leave role
Amy Lamé, London‘s appointed night czar, is standing down from her role after eight years. The American performer and radio presenter feels it’s the right time to move on amid criticism questioning the effectiveness of her role.
Notably, the position was created by London Mayor Sadiq Khan after he was elected in 2016. Yet, recently, Lamé has faced questions about her supporting the capital’s nightlife, despite the mayor’s office maintaining that she’s supported hundreds of venues since she assumed the role.
The mayor’s office says the American, who is known for appearing on BBC 6 Music, praised Lamé for being “instrumental in reopening Fabric, protecting the 100 Club, securing the future of Printworks, securing the reopening of the Black Cap after 10 years of closure, and enabling Drumsheds to open, amongst others”.
It also highlighted the Night Time Enterprise Zones programme, a £500,000 scheme run by Lamé dedicated to boosting the night-time economy in certain town centres. Not only this, but they mentioned the significant Women’s Night Safety Charter, which aims “to put women’s safety at the heart of night-time businesses and organisations”.
However, sceptics have wondered whether Lamé ever had the sufficient power to make a substantial impact on London’s nightlife, particularly when noting that licensing decisions are still under the remit of borough councils and not the night czar.
It is presently unclear whether Lamé will be replaced as night czar, but a City Hall source told the BBC a London Nightlife Taskforce is on its way to address the issues facing the industry. After they’ve completed their examination, they will decide on the future of the night czar position.
Criticisms of Lamé as London’s night czar
Lamé prompted extensive criticism during the Covid-19 pandemic over claims she didn’t vocally support the nightlife sector, which saw a petition started to see her removed from her position. In January, 2023, she also came under fire when it was reported that her salary had risen to nearly £120,000. She attracted more scrutiny this year when her pay rose to £132,846.
In February, the Sunday Times published a report, using research that shows other cities like Birmingham and Liverpool, whose nightlife was also stricken by the pandemic, have allegedly surpassed the capital in night-time transactions.
Following the report, Lamé defended her work as the night czar in The Independent, where she outlined her disappointment at outlets questioning the necessity of the role, which she said allowed her to “supercharge” London’s nightlife. There’s no denying there have been “huge challenges” in recent years, she wrote, such as Brexit, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but she maintained she’s “helped hundreds of venues”.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has also thanked Lamé for her near-decade as the night czar: “I’d like to thank Amy for everything that she’s done as the capital’s first-ever night czar.”
Khan continued: “She has worked hard to help London’s nightlife through huge challenges, including the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, and I know she will continue to be a key part of the industry going forward.”
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