The Uber app is open on a phone in front of one of London's black cabs.Simon Dawson / Reuters
London is giving Uber another chance.
The ride-hailing company received a 15-month probationary license from a British court on Tuesday, which will allow it to continue operating in London.
Uber was able to convince a judge that the company had made significant changes to its business and corporate culture after a local regulator, Transport for London, had declared the company not a “fit and proper” business.
Uber’s future in London, one of its biggest global markets, was thrown into uncertainty after Transport for London declined to renew its license last September and said the company’s “approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications.” Uber was allowed to continue operating in London during the appeal process.
But over the past nine months, Uber has taken steps to clean up its act in the hope of winning back its license.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in the United Kingdom, said the company was “pleased” with the Westminster Magistrate’s Court decision on Tuesday and planned to continue working with Transport for London “to address their concerns and earn their trust, while providing the best possible service for our customers.”
In the United Kingdom, Uber is adding an around-the-clock support hotline for passengers and drivers, limits on driver hours and advisory groups, and taking steps to make sure drivers can use only Uber in the area where they are licensed, among other changes.
In a city known for its iconic black cabs, the prospect of London going without Uber proved to be particularly upsetting for the 3.6 million people who regularly use it in the city and the 45,000 licensed drivers who rely on Uber to help make a living.
One Change.org petition to “save Uber in London” racked up more than 850,000 signatures. After Uber’s license renewal was declined last year, Dara Khosrowshahi, who had recently become CEO, went to London to meet with regulators and drivers, and vowed to work together to help find a solution.
Uber has proven to be a valuable part of London’s infrastructure. The company said four in 10 trips start or end near a train station or London Underground stop, helping provide a solution for the first or last mile in getting between places.
There's no better time to visit London than during Wimbledon. The Championship runs from July 2-15, 2018, and the atmosphere in London is electric. The Milestone Hotel & Residences in Kensington is marking the occasion in style, with access to tickets to watch the men's quarterfinal play in the famous Centre Court, as well as plenty of surprises and themed treats. The Milestone'sWimbledon Quarterfinal Experience includes the following:
Two-night stay in a beautifully appointed Studio or Suite
Lanson Champagne (official sponsors of Wimbledon) Sabrage demonstration toast at the hotel
Private transfers to and from Wimbledon
Centre Court Debenture tickets
Access to the exclusive Centre Court Debenture Lounge and its restaurants and bars
Three-course fine dining experience at The Milestone's Cheneston's restaurant, including a bottle of Bouchard Finlayson wine and still mineral water
Wimbledon-themed turndown gift and treat
Full English breakfast daily
The experience starts at £2,499 (approx. US$3,345) per night, based on two people sharing a suite. Note: alternative dates are available upon request and tickets are subject to availability. Find more details here:https://www.milestonehotel.com/offers/wimbledon-package. The Milestonewill also be serving a special Wimbledon-themed cocktail and a Wimbledon-inspired Afternoon Tea, including menu items such as: a lemon drizzle served with a lemon "tennis ball," blueberry and mint macarons (the Wimbledon Championship colors), and a strawberry and cream tart. Guests and visitors having tea inThe Milestone'sPark Lounge, have a perfect view of Margery Violet Watherston's painting of 'Wimbledon - The Ladies Singles Final 1923.'
The award-winning Milestone Hotel is the London flagship of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Also a proud member of the Leading Hotels of The World, the five-star Milestone Hotel is a quintessentially English property in the heart of London boasting luxurious suites and spacious long-stay residences, fine British dining in Cheneston's Restaurant, charming public areas and an award-winning Afternoon Tea menu. This property occupies a prime position with beautiful views over Kensington Palace and Gardens and located just minutes from London's museum district and glamorous shopping area of Knightsbridge. ABOUT RED CARNATION HOTELS:
Red Carnation Hotels is a collection of 17 family-run, award-winning boutique hotels in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA. Each hotel is a landmark of history and tradition, with an exceptional reputation for exquisite fine dining, leading spas and sumptuous surroundings. Great pride is taken in delivering warm, thoughtful and highly personalized service.
LONDON (Reuters) - London stripped Uber on Friday of its license to operate from the end of next week in a huge blow to the taxi service and 3.5 million users in one of the world’s wealthiest cities.
The capital’s transport authority said the Silicon Valley technology giant was not fit and proper to hold a private vehicle hire license and it would not be renewed when it expires on Sept. 30.
Uber, whose 40,000 drivers in London account for a third of private vehicles hired, said it would contest the decision and regulator Transport for London (TfL) will let it operate until the appeals process is exhausted.
”Uber’s approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications,“ TfL said. ”TfL must also be satisfied that an operator is fit and proper to hold a license.
Specifically, TfL cited Uber’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences, background checks on drivers and software called Greyball that could be used to block regulators from gaining full access to the app.
“Transport for London and the Mayor have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice,” said Tom Elvidge, Uber’s general manager in London. “We intend to immediately challenge this in the courts.”
The loss of the license comes after a tumultuous few months for Uber, including a string of scandals involving allegations of sexism and bullying at the San Francisco-based start-up that forced out former CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick.
Uber, which is valued at about $70 billion and whose investors include Goldman Sachs, has faced protests around the world for shaking up long-established taxi markets.
The taxi app has also been forced to quit several countries, including Denmark and Hungary, and faced regulatory battles in multiple U.S. states and around the world.
HATED BY CABBIES LOVED BY USERS
London’s traditional black cab drivers have attacked Uber, saying it has undercut safety rules and threatened their livelihoods. Uber has been criticized by unions and lawmakers too and been embroiled in legal battles over workers’ rights.
London police also complained in a letter published that Uber was either not disclosing, or taking too long, to report serious crimes including sexual assaults and this put the public at risk.
Uber said then its drivers passed the same rigorous checks as black cab drivers and it has always followed TfL’s rules on reporting serious incidents and it had a dedicated team that worked closely with London’s police.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Labour politician who has criticized Uber in the past, said he backed the decision to reject its application for a new license.
“It would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security,” he said.
Drivers of London’s black cabs, who have snarled up the city’s streets in protest at the app over the last few years, welcomed Friday’s decision.
“Their standards are not up to scratch,” said 71-year-old Walt Burrows, who has driven a black cab for 39 years. “The black cab is an iconic part of London. What you get with a black cab is a metered fare and you know you’re safe.”
Uber is likely to come under more fire next week when it appears in court to appeal a verdict that granted two of its drivers rights such as the minimum wage, the latest “gig economy” battle between firms lauding the flexibility enjoyed by self-employed drivers and unions accusing them of exploitation.
Uber has, however, announced a series of changes over the last few months to improve conditions for its drivers, including the introduction of in-app tipping and plans to increase some fees.
Alongside Uber’s drivers, some of London’s 3.5 million registered users expressed concern as to how TfL’s decision would affect their lives.
“It will definitely impact my life,” said 43-year-old event planner Rimi Char, who users the app at least once a week. “I have got used to the ease and cost effectiveness of using Uber and I’ve always had positive experiences.”
One of Uber’s British competitors in London, Addison Lee, is also awaiting a decision from TfL about a longer-term license. The company declined to comment on Friday.
Additional reporting by Michael Holden, Kylie MacLellan, James Davey, Elizaabeth O'Leary and Elaine Hardcastle; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/David Clarke
The Milestonein London is offering the ultimate way to experience this year's Wimbledon in a truly extravagant way. This exclusive package includes three days of pampering and access to elite events around London, including two Centre Court tickets to the Men's Quarterfinals on Wednesday, July 12.
Priced at £20,000 (approx. US$25,574), based on two people sharing, the luxurious package includes the following:
Chauffeured Bentley roundtrip airport transfer
Three nights' accommodations in a luxury suite, including July 12
English breakfast daily (with the option to have it served in-room by the butler)
Bentley transfers to all London destinations
First Evening:
Champagne Lanson Sabrage and pre-dinner cocktails
Four-course candle-lit dinner, paired with the sommelier's selection of fine wines, in The Milestone's intimate Oratory dining room
Day One:
Private 60-minute helicopter ride along the River Thames
Curated pre-public opening tour of Kensington Palace
Champagne Lanson picnic in Kensington Gardens with private butler
Day Two:
Chauffeured Bentley transfer to Wimbledon All England Club
Private "Behind the Scenes" tour of Wimbledon including a visit to the Trophy Room
Two Centre Court tickets to Men's Quarterfinals with Full-Day Hospitality Package
Post-Match "Smoking Old Fashioned" cocktails in The Milestone's Stables Bar
Day Three:
Bespoke shopping experience, including two tailored shirts by Turnball & Asser and fitting for a pair of ladies' shoes at Jimmy Choo
Private tasting of six Lanson Champagnes at Champagne Lanson in Mayfair
Lunch for two at The English Grill restaurant facing the Royal Mews
To book this exclusive package, please call Andrew Pike, General Manager at The Milestone Hotel on +44 (0)20 7917 1000 or email: andrew@rchmail.com.
ABOUT THE MILESTONE HOTEL:
The award-winning Milestone Hotel is the London flagship of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Also a proud member of the Leading Hotels of The World, the five-star Milestone Hotel is a quintessentially English property in the heart of London boasting luxurious suites and spacious long-stay apartments, fine British dining in Cheneston's Restaurant, charming public areas and an award winning Afternoon Tea menu. This property occupies a prime position with beautiful views over Kensington Palace and Gardens and located just minutes from London's museum district and glamorous shopping area of Knightsbridge.
ABOUT THE RED CARNATION HOTEL COLLECTION:
The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is a collection of family-run, award-winning boutique hotels in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA. From Ireland's recently restored Ashford Castle to South Africa's iconic Oyster Box, each hotel is a landmark of history and tradition that offers a unique character and unsurpassed service. Boasting a peerless reputation for exquisite fine dining, leading spas and sumptuous surroundings, Red Carnation Hotels are proud to deliver warm, thoughtful and highly personalized service to every guest, every time.
‘Junkyard wonderland’… The Hope & Ruin, a bar, diner and gig venue
Brighton’s festival scene in May could be the reason for a spring visit but this creative and collaborative seaside town has inspirational art, music, food and drink on tap year-round
You might imagine that Brighton, the seaside resort and party town, and Brighton, the lefty, bohemian city (the only one in the UK with a Green MP), co-exist independently. Talk to local creatives, however, and that distinction blurs.
It is a matter of attitude. As with any city, Brighton has problems. Despite having one of the UK’s largest per-capita concentrations of creative businesses and artist-makers, this is an expensive place to live. Affordable space, like that available at the Phoenix arts complex, is rare. “We own the building,” says its executive director Sarah Davies. Consequently, artists are forced out to Hastings or Worthing. “I’m lucky,” says the musician and Fat Dog Partypromoter Georgina Stott. “I live in a property guardianship unit where we’ve built a soundproofed rehearsal studio, but prices are similar to London here. It’s tricky.”
At the same time, everyone enthuses about Brighton’s spirit of collaboration, the determination among its alternative tribes to make things happen despite such obstacles; to enjoy life on their own terms. In other cities, alternative communities often simmer with resentment. In Brighton, the attitude is: “Hey, the sun’s out. Let’s do this.”
Phoenix arts complex. Photograph: Julian Vilarrubi
“Brighton is about collaboration generated by the enthusiasm of the people running spaces here,” says Nicola Haydn, artistic director at production company Otherplace, “which means that grassroots comics and musicians can come and play in those places. In Brighton everyone’s a hippy. People get on. It’s not cut-throat. You can see the sea, you can hear seagulls. There is a more relaxed vibe.”
That inclusive, DIY sensibility explains, perhaps, the conspicuously large number of bars and cafes in Brighton that double as performance and (often radical) community spaces. Brighton is home to the UK’s biggest artists’ “open house” festival (6-29 May), while the city’s foremost music festival, the Great Escape (18-20 May), has spawned a free Alternative Escape programme. Likewise, May’s Brighton Festival runs alongside the world’s third largest fringe arts festival (5 May to 4 June).
Bucking the system is not limited to the arts. Like any city, mainstream Brighton has its chain stores. But, famously, the city has a remarkable number of unusually sophisticated meat-free restaurants (where else would you find Hail Seitan, a co-operative vegan kitchen?). It is also the location for ethical supermarket HiSbe, and Silo, a zero-waste restaurant. Michael Bremner – part of the team behind the crowdfunded Brighton pub the Bison Arms and the chef-owner of arguably Brighton’s best restaurant, 64° – says that cooking responsibly and sustainably is obligatory here: “People expect it. I see it as a duty. And the chefs I know are of the same mentality.” The Bison Arms was bought in part to stop a chain operator bagging the site.
Musically, Brighton’s proximity to London is a mixed blessing (it is easier to book acts; harder to establish a distinct musical identity), but it maintains a vibrant local scene of niche labels and gig/club promoters as diverse as the psych and garage evangelists Acid Box, and electronic connoisseurs First Floor. “People down here are well-educated about underground music,” says DJ/producer, Suze Rosser. “And there’s a few people here who’ve chosen to leave London because it’s a slower pace and a little more friendly.” By the sounds of it, those London escapees have the right idea.
Committed to the idea that art can effect profound social and political change, this gallery and performance space is a platform for work that addresses, primarily, environmental concerns. ONCA’s programme is busy and diverse, from Synthetic Ecology to site-specific theatre in its subterranean cave. A Grade II-listed Regency building and courtyard, ONCA is “a really lovely space,” says Davies of Phoenix Brighton. “They’re small but agile and have the passion and vision to scope that up.” •14 St George’s Place, onca.org.uk
In recent decades, this 18th-century pub has become a refuge for cutting-edge performance. “I produced some of my first shows there in the early 1990s,” says Nicola Haydn, who curates the Warren, the Brighton fringe festival’s multi-venue performance hub . The 55-seat Marlborough, says Haydn, “shows excellent stuff including a lot of LGBT work [from in-house production company, Pink Fringe].” Meanwhile, she adds, over at punky rockers’ pub Caroline of Brunswick, you will find “great comedy in the tiny upstairs room; either up-and-coming acts or established comics trying new stuff out.” • 4 Princes Street, marlboroughtheatre.org.uk
Fabrica
As festival director of Artists Open Houses (weekends, May), during which more than 1,500 artists and makers invite the public into their homes and studios, Judy Stevens is acutely aware that Brighton lacks major exhibition spaces for contemporary art. Fabrica makes a sterling effort to plug that gap with its packed programme of talks, screenings, workshops, exhibitions and site-specific commissions. “In an old church, it’s an artists’ community that is important to the whole city in terms of visual arts,” says Stevens. •40 Duke Street, fabrica.org.uk
Ad hoc art
Artwork by David Batchelor, which featured as part of Brighton’s HOUSE visual art festival
To get the best out of Brighton, keep your ear to the ground. Grassroots, often volunteer-run, art is a tenuous business. “Things pop up then disappear. It’s an ever-changing landscape,” says Haydn. Similarly, several established Brighton arts organisations stage exhibitions and events on an irregular, ad hoc basis. Check in on activity at Blank (currently relocating) and the tech-focused agency Lighthouse. Such hubs tend to ramp up their public work around Brighton’s major festivals, such as the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival (Sep/Oct) and HOUSE (Oct 2017, biennially from this year on), a city-wide festival of specially commissioned visual art which, last year, was headlined by the Turner winner Gillian Wearing.
Phoenix
“This is Brighton’s main artists’ studio complex and it has a really good artist-led exhibition space,” says Stevens. “Exciting things happen there.” These vary from family-friendly art markets to regular screenings of rare, avant garde art films, creative talks and themed, curated exhibitions of work by Phoenix artists. The forthcoming Present Tense (from 6 May) explores how ideas are informed by and can transcend their physical and cultural origins. • 10–14 Waterloo Place, phoenixbrighton.org
This 200-capacity club offers some of Brighton’s most cutting-edge electronic music programming – until 6am, too. Recent guests have ranged from Terror Danjah and Kowton to British house icon Luke Solomon; and look out for parties from local outfits such as Attic and Schtumm. The DJ/ producer Suze Rosser helps run the Constant Circles label, which has a quarterly showcase here (next date 10 June). She says: “Mono’s an intimate setting – a tunnel basically with a Funktion One soundsystem, where the focus is on extended, sometimes five-hour DJ sets. It opened around Christmas and it’s building a really nice crowd.” • 169-170 King’s Road Arches, monobrighton.com
Beneath Brighton station, this bar and novel gig/club space (vaulted ceilings and cobbled floors) is a hive of grassroots activity. Georgina Stott, whose free, multifaceted Fat Dog parties were incubated here, credits Green Door’s owners with fostering local talent, “They give people a chance, basically,” she says, pointing, by example, to radio station Platform B’s studio in the bar. Expect to find smaller touring bands here, although Green Door also programmes free club nights, such as hip-hop midweeker Donuts, R&B night Bossy, and the label Tru Thoughts’ bass-driven monthly, Sonic Switch. “It has good local promoters, a warehouse feel and an open-minded crowd,” says Rosser. • 2-4 Trafalgar Arches, Lower Goods Yard, thegreendoorstore.co.uk
Coachwerks
A multi-purpose building that houses artist-maker studios and green community centre, Coachwerks is also an ad hoc hub for film, music and art events. Stott, who plays in five Brighton bands, including Porridge Radio, loves it: “It’s this weird kind of hut on an estate in Hollingbury with its own brewery and gallery. We played a family festival there but there were loads of young bands on. Age isn’t a thing there, everyone mucks in.” • 19a Hollingdean Terrace, coachwerks.org
Originally an art deco hotel, this building has been several music venues and is now thriving as Patterns. “The club’s in the low-ceilinged basement, a perfect setting,” says Rosser, who presents on 1 Brighton FM (which will broadcast from Patterns in May, as part of the Magic Number festival). “The stuff Patterns has on is forward-thinking. For instance, it has Move D, Joy Orbison and Princess Nokia coming up and Horse Meat Disco have a residency there. It’s a real mix.” Flagging clubbers can wander up to the ground-floor bar, which is open all day and has a terrace used for occasional summer DJ parties and barbecues. Note: the junglist massive may prefer to head over to nearby Concorde2, where the 160bpm flame burns bright. Concorde 2 also hosts Brighton’s bigger dub and reggae gigs, plus visits from grime’s hottest MCs (eg Stormzy, Bugzy Malone). • 10 Marine Parade, patternsbrighton.com
Multipurpose Brighton
Brighton has an unusual number of off-beat venues which, like Coachwerks, facilitate everything from cult film nights and alternative speed dating to debating clubs, with music often at the forefront. In between its drag king cabaret and spoken word events, Latest Music Bar hosts regular gigs, as does the Marwood, an eccentrically decorated coffee shop-cum-bar with a first-floor performance space. The Rialto theatre welcomes the occasional touring band and Stott loves West Hill Hall, a bring-your-own-booze community hall used for DIY gigs: “The sound’s rough and ready but it works. It’s got a bit of a stage but normally bands just play on the floor.”
These Italian charmers used to feed people from a Fiat van and at pop-up supper clubs; their permanent diner is similarly simple and intimate. Eighteen guests eat at a chipboard bar, cheek by jowl with chefs preparing small plates of octopus, lentils and salsa verde and fresh pastas, such as maltagliati with leeks, Jerusalem artichokes and truffled ricotta. “It’s friendly, humble and just really cool,” says 64° chef-owner Michael Bremner. • Plates £6-£10, 13-16 Vine Street, cincin.co.uk
Modelled on Japan’s izakaya (boozy dens that serve punchy, gutsy food; in this case mainly grilled yakitori skewers), Bincho has taken Brighton by storm. “It’s fantastic,” says Iain Chambers, manager at the Bevy, a community-owned Brighton pub. “The Korean chicken wings are amazing. All the chefs go there.” Bremner agrees: “It does chicken skin, skewered hearts and livers; chefs love that stuff. Bincho’s pork belly is incredible, too.” • Plates £3-£7, 63 Preston Street, @BinchoYakitori
Trollburger
Paul Clark is on a very-Brighton mission to create superb food that is ethical in everything from its sourcing to the wages of the staff who prepare it. His sensational burgers are available from a “shack” under Brighton station and, after a recent flirtation with doner kebabs, he opened the neighbouring Trafalgar Street Arches diner, Hash House. “He just loves experimenting,” says fan Chambers, who – while we’re at Brighton station – also loves Curry Leaf’s platform kiosk: “You can get a beautiful fat paratha wrap full of tandoori paneer for a fiver here.” • Burgers from £5 (Wed-Sat), Trafalgar Street Arches, thetrollspantry.co.uk
Rootcandi
At Terre à Terre (terreaterre.co.uk) and Food For Friends (foodforfriends.com), Brighton has long been home to some of Britain’s most ambitious plant-based, meat-free cookery. A spin-off from the tasty, affordable Iydea canteens, Rootcandi is the latest vegetarian restaurant pushing the boundaries. It describes its food as Pan-Asian street food but, says Chambers, its vegan stir-frys, curries and bao buns are “refined and different.”
Fastidious pizza is the deal here, washed down with local beers from 360° and Bison. “It’s without doubt my favourite place in Brighton,” says Joe Lutrario, deputy editor at Restaurant magazine. “It’s broadly straightforward, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza – the n’duja (pork salumi) is really good – and it blows the chains out of the water.” •Pizza from £5.50, 77 London Road, fattoamanopizza.com
Instantly recognisable by its exterior mural of musical icons, the loveable, slightly grungy Prince Albert is one of those traditional pubs that has, slowly, morphed into a boho haven of good beers (often from Sussex’s Dark Star and Burning Sky), and raucous gigs in its upstairs venue. Shows runs the gamut from cacophonous metal to tremulous folk as local acts and touring cult bands pass through, assisted by local promoters such as Melting Vinyl and Dictionary Pudding. “It has a fantastic vibe,” says Georgina Stott. “[Label/ music collective] Love Thy Neighbour puts on a lot of gigs there and they’re always super-good.” • Pint from £3.60, 48 Trafalgar Street, on Facebook
“It does the best negroni in Brighton,” says Joe Lutrario of this late-night Kemptown bar. A dark cocoon evocatively dressed in flea market bric-a-brac, the Dove also serves up a stellar selection of craft beers (from scene-leaders such as Wild Beer, Beavertown Brew By Numbers) and a varied cultural programme. Its events include the long-running spoken-word evening Horseplay, the monthly Jazzology and heavyweight funk and hip-hop throwdown, Vinyl Veterans. • Pint from £4.10, cocktails £7.50, 74 St James’s Street, blackdovebrighton.com
The Hope & Ruin
A reclaimed wonderland of junkyard glitterballs and fairy lights (note: the kitchen occupies half an old touring caravan), the Hope serves some interesting beer (Cloudwater, Magic Rock), popular vegan food from Beelzebab, and hosts regular gigs. “They’ve let us put shows on in the pub which, in the best way, has always been a bit of a shambles,” laughs Stott, “but upstairs there’s a dedicated venue with fantastic sound.” The Hope’s sister venue, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, books everything from grime nights to out-there psych in its lively basement. • Pint from £4.20, 11-12 Queens Road, hope.pub
The Brunswick
This historic free house in neighbouring Hove dispenses A1 beers (Burning Sky, Wylam, Northern Monk), and in its cosy cellar bar and live room hosts multifarious gigs and DJ nights, from Tuesday’s Jazz Club to alt/indie showcases from energetic promoters Overhead Wires Music. “With its outdoor terrace and occasional beer festivals, the Brunswick has many strings to its bow,” says Jack Cregan, co-owner of craft beer bottle shop Bison, the main instigators of the crowdfunded Bison Arms pub project. • Pint from £3.80, 1–3 Holland Road, Hove, thebrunswick.net
For its supporters, “natural wine” (made with minimal chemical or mechanical intervention) is a return to the unmediated truth of wine. It is wine full of the vibrant flavours that industrialisation has gradually dulled. Decide for yourself at this modish, laid-back French-owned bar and restaurant, which serves 17 natural wines by the glass. “I adore its bar and the food,” says Fran Villani, who blogs at thegraphicfoodie.co.uk. “Its cocktails have a prohibition-era feel and are some of Brighton’s best.” • Wines from £5, 1 Bartholowmews, plateaubrighton.co.uk
