Yahoo News London's night czar Amy Lamé quits role after eight years
London's night czar Amy Lamé is to step down from her role overseeing the capital's bars, clubs and nightlife after eight years in the role. Ms Lamé, 53, is a US-born performer famed for her LGBT-themed shows including the long-running 'Duckie' at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. She was appointed London's first 'night czar' with a brief to safeguard and promote its nightlife by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in November 2016.
From its early days, political opponents criticised the new role created by the Mayor, arguing that the night czar had few real powers as licensing authority remained with borough councils, and questioning whether Ms Lamé's salary - which rose to £132,846 this year - was justified, given the tide of closing venues.
Ms Lamé was praised by the Mayor's office for having “supported hundreds of venues since 2016”. Among her successes, they cited the reopening of Fabric, safeguarding future of the 100 Club and Printworks, and fatefully, helping to negotiate the reopening of Camden's legendary gay bar The Black Cap after 10 years of closure. Today, Ms Lamé has announced she will depart her role at the end of this month.
She 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."
It is unknown whether Ms Lamé will be succeeded by a new night czar. A City Hall source told the Evening Standard: “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.”
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