Inside Hackney’s plans for safer, more inclusive nightlife
Hackney’s first-ever evening and nighttime strategy has launched, aiming to create a safer, more inclusive borough that’s still at the forefront of London’s nightlife.
The Good Evening Hackney strategy will guide how the Council and its partners promote the nightlife and cultural assets in a borough that draws more visitors after 5pm than almost anywhere else in the city, and on Saturdays it's even busier at night than during the day.
A cornerstone of the plan is the safety of nighttime spaces, with nighttime welfare pop-ups staffed by the Council enforcement team in Shoreditch already garnering significant buzz on social media. The events offer passersby free water, phone charging, safety equipment, and more.
To combat phone thefts, a new initiative allows people to get their phones tagged with a unique QR code. This distinct code will enable police to track stolen devices more easily.
A “Hackney Nights” map will be available to help residents and visitors navigate the borough after dark. This invaluable resource will highlight night transport options, safe routes, public toilets, accredited venues, and other important safety landmarks.
Venues that sign up for accreditation will see their staff receive comprehensive training, including crucial advice on preventing drink spiking. The strategy also offers noise reduction advice to venues, aiming to prevent closures and foster a sustainable nighttime environment.
The plan also aims to help keep Hackney one of London’s main night time destinations as spending and leisure habits change. That includes proposals to support night markets, street food pop-ups and late-night shopping could be coming to Hackney – kickstarted by plans to offer outdoor dining and drinking until midnight in parts of Shoreditch following a £100,000 grant from the Mayor of London’s Summer Streets Fund.
And plans to keep Hackney’s nightlife inclusive to all include collaborating with local organisations to offer discounts to low-income families, increasing their access to arts and culture.
Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas OBE, Cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, said: “I am proud of Hackney’s vibrant evening and night economy, which has created huge benefits for Hackney – new jobs, more investment, a better range of leisure opportunities for residents, and continually thriving high streets despite a changing economy.
“It has also brought challenges, including managing the impact of nighttime activities on the needs of residents, and keeping venues and public spaces safe from crime and antisocial behaviour.
“This new nighttime strategy is vital in balancing these opportunities and challenges. It aims to ensure that local residents and businesses are the first to benefit from Hackney’s evening economy and that the borough stays safe, inclusive and vibrant at night.
“But it is also an acknowledgement that Hackney can’t stay at the cutting edge by standing still. We know that how people choose to spend their time and money is changing, and we want Hackney to remain a go-to destination through that change.”