London night czar Amy Lamé to step down at the end of this month
First appointed by Sadiq Khan in 2016, Lamé has faced criticism during her tenure over the UK capital's dwindling nightlife
London night czar Amy Lamé has announced that she will step down from her position at the end of this month, according to a report from The Evening Standard.
Lamé, who was first appointed to the position in 2016 by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, said in a statement that it had 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.
“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," the statement continues.
The night czar has been criticised during her tenure over the belief that London's nightlife has suffered under her stewardship. Earlier this year Lamé came under fire for comments that claimed London is a "24-hour city," amid a slew of club closures in the capital in the 12 months prior.
Lamé hit back at the criticism, pointing to her role in helping to bring about the planned reopening of Surrey Quays Printworks, writing in The Independent: "London is the best 24-hour city in the world, thanks to more than 1.3 million Londoners working at night, keeping the capital’s economy active 24/7."
According to The Evening Standard, there has been no confirmation from City Hall so far that another night czar will be appointed following her departure.
The mayor has released a statement thanking Lamé for her work, writing "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.”
You can read Amy Lamé's statement given to LBC below:
“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.”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, sent a statement to Mixmag about Amy Lamé's Resignation as London Night Czar, writing: "During Amy's eight-year tenure, while there has been criticism, several achievements must be recognised. Her work on women’s safety at night, and the establishment of enterprise zones, have been hugely beneficial for the sector.
"The role of Night Czar has always been crucial, but also an enormous challenge, especially during one of the toughest trading periods for the night-time economy. Representing such a vast market in a capital city like London is no easy task. I wish Amy well in her future endeavours."
Mixmag has contacted representatives for Sadiq Khan and Amy Lamé for comment.
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter