Brighton: A city where a queue for takeout at 3am can feel just as culturally significant as a gig on the seafront or a walk through the Lanes. Brighton’s late-night identity is part of its charm, but a recent licensing dispute is forcing the city to ask a tricky question. How much nightlife is too much?
When Mohammed Patni, owner of Brighton staples Happy Maki and We Love Falafel, applied for a 3am trading licence, he was met by plenty of resistance from Brighton and Hove’s city council, who argued that the city is already over saturated with late-night spots.
At first glance, this just appears just a simple licensing dispute, one of hundreds that take place all over the country. But in reality, it highlights the deeper problem of finding a balance between a vibrant night-time economy and the pressures on the people living there.
In a world that is still facing post-pandemic problems, late night trading is essential in the hospitality sector. Those few extra hours make the difference between staying afloat and shutting up shop. In Brighton, a city known for its rich culinary scene, losing independent businesses is not only a cultural loss, but an economic one.
A local worker at a cafe/bar in the Lanes explained staying open into the early hours is often essential just to break even. “Those last few hours are where we actually make our money,” they explained. “Rent, staff, energy costs: it all adds up, and daytime trade alone doesn’t cover it anymore.”
Chaos for convenience?
Speak to any night owl in Brighton, and they’ll tell you that the demand for late-night takeaways is always strong. Once the clubs shut their doors, partygoers spill out into the lanes looking for anything to eat and it’s not only them – taxi drivers need quick stops between fares and shift workers rely on locations that operate outside the standard hours of 9 to 5. In this sense, it forms a sort of infrastructure. Late-night venues sustain those who keep this city running and are an essential part of their day-to-day lives.
But of course, that infrastructure comes with consequences. Those living in the centre of town, surrounded by party hotspots, often have a different story to tell. It’s one full of noise, litter and anti-social behaviour. For these residents, a 3am licence is just another opportunity for disruption.
The concerns brought up in response to Patni’s application follow a similar pattern to those seen before. Allowing more venues to be open later can mean more foot traffic, which in turn leads to increased policing demands and a strain on local services. Representatives from Sussex police have expressed in the past how concentrated nightlife zones can become flashpoints in the early hours.
Simona, who resides in the heart of Brighton’s city centre, says the idea of more late-night venue concerns her.
“Of course, the noise is a problem, I work early shifts and don’t get enough sleep, but it’s also dangerous,” she explains. “Big groups are coming out of the pubs looking for food at 1am, 2am, completely drunk, and they’ll often turn aggressive.” She worries that if more late-night licences are allowed it could make the problem she experiences even worse. “I completely sympathise with businesses, and understand they’re just looking to survive, but there’s a limit. Brighton is such a vibrant city, and making people feel unsafe is taking away from that.”
Next steps
It would be oversimplifying to just draw a straight line between takeaway venues and disorder. In fact, it could even be argued that these outlets help mitigate problems by offering a place for people to sober up and disperse into the streets more gradually, rather than all at once. Additionally, there’s the broader question of Brighton’s identity at stake.
Brighton’s draw largely comes from the idea that it is a city that embraces creativity, diversity and independence. It is a place that boasts about its hospitality scene’s wide array of choice and availability. The nightlife in Brighton is a part of its appeal and limiting late-night licences risks sanding down Brighton’s edges, forcing this city into a less distinctive version of itself.
But cities do evolve, and what might’ve worked a decade ago may no longer suit a growing population facing different pressures. Brighton housing density has increased, meaning that sensitivity to noise has as well.
Patni’s application, then, is more than just a single decision. It is a reflection of a constant question facing Brighton’s future. For now, the debate continues in council meetings, social media and between those who call the city home, Whether or not this particular licence is granted, the question remains: How does Brighton remain vibrant whilst still being liveable?
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