Camden Council is set to improve disabled access to licensed premises, following discussions at a Licensing Committee meeting on 24 November 2025. The council has embedded good practice into its licensing approach regarding disability access, including consultation with disabled residents and organisations.

The council aims to ensure that licensed venues and the night-time economy are safe, inclusive, and welcoming for everyone. Accessibility within licensed venues is directly relevant to the Licensing Committee, particularly in ensuring that premises operate in a manner consistent with the Council's statutory duties and policy objectives under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Equality Act 2010.

Ongoing and future work will focus on establishing and promoting:

  • Accessibility guidance and checklist for venues
  • Training and capacity building for staff in licensed venues to enable them to identify and properly assist disabled patrons and visitors to their venues.
  • Partnership and community engagement
  • Enforcement and monitoring to ensure compliance.

Officers committed to meet with representatives from Attitude is Everything and explore options to create a bespoke accessibility pledge for Camden venues. A further meeting is scheduled for later in November 2025.

At the request of the Chair of Licensing Committee, Councillor Jonathan Simpson MBE, a site visit was arranged for Committee members to see an example of best practice in the Borough, at The Roundhouse.

Officers are also in the process of organising a site visit to The O2 arena in Greenwich, which has been awarded Platinum status by the Attitude is Everything Live Events Access Charter.

At a meeting in July 2025, the Licensing Committee heard from Attitude is Everything and discussed a report on Improving Disabled Access in Licensed Premises and Events . Paul Hawkins and Bee Grzegorzek, representing Attitude is Everything, made the following points:

  • Attitude is Everything's approach was informed by 25 years of feedback from disabled audience members, artists, professionals, and volunteers.
  • The aim was to identify practical solutions that had a real impact, acknowledging the financial limitations often faced by music and live events venues.
  • However, lack of funding did not excuse inaction, as many accessibility improvements could be made at little or no cost, in line with obligations under the Equality Act.
  • Whilst Attitude is Everything's Live Events Access Charter was very comprehensive, it was potentially too comprehensive for smaller or community venues.

Members of the Committee made the following comments and suggestions:

  • Venues should aim to go beyond minimum building regulations where possible, with ramps and access features designed to be more user-friendly.
  • The Attitude is Everything Charter offered step-by-step improvement, helping all venues, regardless of current level, to progress, which was very encouraging.
  • Camden had a significant concentration of major cultural venues and therefore a local version of an accessibility pledge or similar should be developed by the as soon as possible and should include engagement with local venues.
  • Any future approach should distinguish between large and small venues and reflect what is realistically achievable, noting that while some physical adaptations can be costly, many improvements can be made through training and awareness.
  • The council should work closely with organisations like Attitude is Everything to develop accessibility work and to raise awareness among disabled residents about schemes like the Nimbus Access Card.

The Committee welcomed the work on improving accessibility and expressed desire to progress this work further.

Representatives from Attitude is Everything added that they could support the development of a model for local authorities and could work with the Council to progress this work.

The Committee strongly endorsed the continuation of the accessibility work and welcomed the opportunity to work with Attitude is Everything. The Committee requested that officers continue to develop the work and hoped that measurable progress could be made by the end of the year.