Amy Lamé will quit at the end of this month after eight years in the job, saying it had been “a real privilege to serve Londoners”, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

The West End and (inset) night czar Amy Lamé

Sadiq Khan’s night czar will stand down from her role at City Hall after eight years in the job.

Amy Lamé, who will quit at the end of this month, said she felt it was “the right time” to “move on” but said it had been “a real privilege to serve Londoners”.

The night czar – a new role created by Khan following his election as mayor in 2016 – had attracted anger from critics who said she was failing to stem the closure of nightlife venues across the capital.

Questions had also been raised about the size of her salary, which rose this year to £132,846, and whether she had the necessary powers to make a meaningful difference to London’s nightlife, particularly given that licensing decisions remain in the hands of borough councils.

It is unclear whether Lamé will be replaced with a new night czar.

A City Hall source said: “The forthcoming London Nightlife Taskforce will examine and address the issues facing the industries. Any decisions on the night czar role will be taken once they have completed their work.”

The mayor’s office credited Lamé for having “supported hundreds of venues since 2016” and for being “instrumental in reopening Fabric, protecting the 100 Club, securing the future of Printworks, securing the reopening of the Black Cap after ten years of closure, and enabling Drumsheds [in Enfield] to open, among others”.

They also pointed to her £500,000 ‘Night Time Enterprise Zones’ programme – a scheme aimed at boosting the night economy in selected town centres – and with launching the ‘Women’s Night Safety Charter’, which strives “to put women’s safety at the heart of night time businesses and organisations”.

Khan said: “I’d like to thank Amy for everything that she’s done as the capital’s first-ever night czar.

“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.”

Lamé said: “It has been a huge honour to be London’s – and the UK’s – first-ever night czar, but after eight years I believe that it is the right time for me to move on.

“It has been a real privilege to serve Londoners and deliver for the mayor, and I’m deeply proud of what has been achieved in the face of so many challenges.

“Boroughs are planning for life at night for the first time with dedicated night time strategies, the innovative Women’s Night Safety Charter has ensured thousands of organisations prioritise the safety of women, the ‘Agent of Change’ is protecting venues from development, four in five of London’s night workers are receiving the London Living Wage and I’ve worked alongside hundreds of venues to support them in their hours of need.

“Cities across the UK and the world have created their own champions for life at night in recent years, and it’s been inspiring to work alongside them.

“Despite the ongoing challenges that it faces, I know that London’s life at night will continue to evolve and I look forward to seeing the work that has already started to deliver the mayor’s manifesto pledges, as I begin my next chapter.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.