Night-time Expertise
At MAKE a key part of our work is to draw on our team’s 25 years’ experience of the night-time city, after dark planning and alcohol and entertainment licensing to provide a unique 'MAKE assessment’ of night-time economy projects and policies.
We are asked by councils, the police, barristers, solicitors and venue owners to give our independent and objective assessment on their proposals, which may then be used as evidence in licensing and planning applications and appeals, as well as in licence reviews and in assessing problem nightlife venues.
To support councils in developing their statements of licensing policy and in assessing ‘cumulative impact’, we have pioneered the ‘MAKE Licensing Research Method’. This is an evidence-based process which brings together criminological, anthropological, and interview data to underpin licensing policies.
Below are some of the projects which best demonstrate how we have used our experience to help the public and private sectors get their decisions right.
London Borough of Hounslow: Licensing Policy & Cumulative impact assessment
The London Borough of Hounslow needed an end-to-end service for its 2020-25 licensing policy and cumulative impact assessment.
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham: Fulham Night Time Economy & Licensing Study
Fulham is a very nice part of West London, but it also has a large number of licensed venues and a lively night-time economy. MAKE was asked to produce an objective study of the issues.
major Landowner: Licensing and Planning Impact Appraisal
One of London’s leading food destinations wanted to open a new restaurant-bar and asked MAKE to assess its compliance with policy.
Village Underground: Shoreditch Licensing Impact Study
Even the coolest venues need to open late to make ends meet. Would Village Underground’s 6am licence sit harmoniously with its neighbours? MAKE was asked to give its view.
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham: Problem Premises Study
Wealthy neighbourhoods also have problem licensed venues and residents are not shy in complaining. MAKE was asked by Hammersmith & Fulham to investigate a venue with resident complaints.
The Alchemist Bar & Grill: Nottingham Expert Witness Licence Assessment
Local authorities often struggle to understand the different types of licensed venues and what this means for their town. MAKE was asked to identify what impact a new Alchemist would have on Nottingham.
Ennismore: The Gleneagles Club, Mayfair Planning & Licensing Study
Golf in the city? Ennismore wanted to bring a slice of its legendary Scottish golf course and hotel Gleneagles to London with a members’ club. MAKE were asked to prepare the licensing and planning study.
Ennsimore: Hoxton Hotel - Planning & Licensing Study
Everyone loves a roof terrace right? Well only if it’s not going to disturb your sleep. MAKE was asked to assess whether the Hoxton Hotel’s plan for a party in the sky would create problems.
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames: Night-Time Economy & Licensing Study
MAKE were asked to undertake a cumulative impact assessment for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames that would give councillors the confidence to make bold licensing decisions.
Ealing Council: Study of Crime and Betting Shops
There is academic evidence that betting shops can be associated with crime and disorder. Ealing wanted to know if this was the case in its town centres. MAKE undertook the first observational study into this phenomenon.
Kerb: Seven Dials Food Market Licensing and Planning Advisors
Street food has become big (yet small) business. Kerb wanted to house a selection of its 100 delicious traders in an old warehouse in Covent Garden. They asked MAKE to assess the scheme’s impact.
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames: Public Drinking Study
Al fresco drinking or drunk in public? Richmond upon Thames asked MAKE to quantify and qualify the extent and nature of public (street) drinking in the town as part of its community safety strategy.
Cornerstone Barristers: Newcastle Expert Licence Assessment
Newcastle is a great city with a vibrant but problematic night-time economy. The last thing it needed was another licensed venue, right? MAKE were asked to assess any impact of a operator.
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames: Measuring the NTE Workshops
Richmond is genteel in all the right ways. So how could it go about developing its evening and night-time economy without damaging its unique ambiance? We helped them walk a fine line.
Tayēr & Elementary: CNN Building Licensing and Planning Advisors
The CNN building in Old Street is a sign of how corporates now invest in East London. But did plans for an experimental cocktail bar and restaurant contravene policy? MAKE was asked to give its view.
Village Underground - EartH / Hackney Arts Centre: Licensing and Planning Advisors
Nearly everybody wanted Village Underground’s bid to turn a disused art deco gem into a world class arts venue to succeed, but it was inside a cumulative impact area. We assessed its impact.
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham: Shepherd’s Bush Night Time & Licensing Study
Shepherd’s Bush is a pretty lively place after dark! The council wanted to know the extent of the issues linked to the sale of alcohol in the area and any problems venues. They asked MAKE to find out more.
major stakeholder: public space Redevelopment Study
MAKE was asked to advise on how one of the best bits of urbanism in London’s West End could diversify its nightlife.
Deltic Leisure: Licence Appeal and Study of Kingston Town Centre NTE
Deltic is the largest UK nightclubs operator. One of its nightclubs received a licence review following a tragic incident. It wanted to understand if its procedures were now sufficient to prevent a repeat.
Soho Estates: Foyles Redevelopment Licensing and Planning Advisors
Arguably the world’s greatest (and definitely most eccentric) bookshop Foyles, was moving home. The plan was to turn its ramshackle building into a great public space with restaurants and offices. MAKE was asked to advise.
Azumi: Amazónico, Berkeley Square Licensing Advisors
High end restrauteurs Azumi wanted to bring a little jungle to the urban jungle with a rainforest themed bar and restaurant. But prestigious Berkeley Square needs careful management. Were the plans right?
Thomas & Thomas and Monmouth Planning: Soho Neighbourhood Plan Review
Soho is the jewel in London’s nightlife. The local neighbourhood forum is preparing a plan for the area’s future. We were asked to review its likely impact on the night-time economy.