London Mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed broadcaster, LGBT activist, and DJ Amy Lamé as London’s very first “night czar,” dedicated to fighting the powers that be in order to protect the city’s nightlife. The recent closure of Fabric made headlines, but countless other venues are increasingly under threat due to the encroachment of residential developments, soaring property prices, and the tightening of laws related to nightlife.
During his campaign for mayor, Sadiq Khan was vocal about his commitment to saving the nighttime economy, tellingThe Independent, “I don’t want young and creative Londoners abandoning our city to head to Amsterdam, to Berlin, to Prague where clubs are supported and allowed to flourish. I want them to be able to celebrate what they love in the city that they love, rather than punish them or force their activities underground or abroad.”
Speaking of her appointment, Amy Lamé said: “It’s a privilege to be London’s very first night czar. I can’t wait to hit the streets and have loads of ideas of what I can do for revellers, night-time workers, businesses, and stakeholders. With the advent of the Night Tube, and the Mayor’s commitment to protect iconic venues across the city, I’m confident that I can inspire a positive change in the way people think about the night-time economy.”
Lamé, who co-founded the legendary weekly “post-queer” performance club night Duckie, already has experience protecting London venues, working to keep the Royal Vauxhall Tavern safe from developers, highlighting its important history as an iconic LGBT performance space.
Credits
Text Clementine de Pressigny
Photography via Amy Lamé