London night czar, Amy Lamé, has told Music Week that local authorities are now beginning to realise the importance of the capital’s night time economy.
Commenting on the recent deal between iconic Hackney venue Village Underground and the local council - which saw the venue granted with a new 15-year lease - Lamé said that one of key aspects of the agreement was the communication between the venue owners and the local authorities. Something she sees as fundamental the future prosperity of London nightlife.
“The way things were before, promoters or venues owners would have thought the council was against them, or that the police and the punters were against each other,” she commented.“Breaking down these polarised views is very refreshing - to be able to say to venue owners, You can phone up your local councillor - that’s what they’re there for. Councils are now sticking their heads above the parapet saying, We realise now how important the night time economy and culture is to our area of London.”
Lamé is now looking to secure many of the more troubled venues across the capital and instigate the launch of more.
“Hackney Council are designating Curtain Road as an area of cultural importance and they’re encouraging small music venues to open in that area,” she says.
“Waltham Forest has a lot going on, south Tottenham is another area a couple of new venues are opening up. Kilburn Highway has a new venue opening. The Sound Lounge in Tooting did a Kickstarter campaign and raised about £15,000 and now they’re opening as a music venue. I’m here to support people in order to do that.”
You can read our full interview with Lamé here and in the new issue of Music Week out now.
