Council suspends busking in Leicester square following court ruling

• Recent court ruling leaves Westminster City Council with no choice.
• Council remains committed to seeking a balance between buskers and local business.

Following a ruling by a City of London magistrates' court judge last month, Westminster City Council has suspended two busking performance pitches in Leicester Square in order to comply.

In the case between Global Radio and Westminster City Council on the 26th March, the district judge ordered the local authority to stop the nuisance that is caused by "noise from the playing of music by buskers playing in Leicester Square".

It puts the council in an impossible position as they have always tried to make sure the right balance is struck between everyone involved. They have looked to ensure that disruption by performers is minimised but they know how much performers are loved by visitors and are an iconic part of the city’s tourist scene and are keen to make sure that buskers are able to continue and adding to the wider city’s cultural heritage.

Unfortunately, the ruling leaves the council with no choice but to suspend performance pitches in Leicester Square.

In a letter sent to licenced performers who currently work in the area, the local authority shared their decision and outlined what happens next. From Thursday 17th April until further notice, all licensed and unlicensed buskers and street entertainers will have to comply with the suspension in Leicester Square.

Anyone who performs in the affected area may face enforcement that includes a fine, equipment being seized or even their licence being taken off them.

Cllr Matt Noble, Westminster City Council Spokesperson said:

Street performers are a much-loved part of our city’s identity, but we also have to balance this with a duty to protect residents and businesses. The court ruling gives us no choice—we now have a legal obligation to act.”

“This is categorically not a ban on street performers in Westminster. Our next step is to comply with the ruling by suspending street performance pitches in Leicester Square, consider the court ruling and find a fair solution.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

City of London Magistrates’ Court ruled in favour of Global Radio and determined that:

• A statutory nuisance exists and is likely to recur from busking in Leicester Square.
• An abatement order has been issued against the council, requiring us to:
  • Abate the statutory nuisance consisting of noise from the playing of music by buskers in Leicester Square, and
  • Prevent the recurrence of that statutory nuisance.
• The council must comply with this Order within 28 days of 26 March 2025.

This suspension will remain in effect until further notice. During this period, the council will review the Court’s judgment in detail and consider its next steps. This includes assessing the issues raised by the Court, exploring its grounds of appeal and in due course, exploring any appropriate revisions to the busking and street entertainment licensing regime, such as pitch locations, licence and pitch terms and conditions, and the wider Council policy for this regime.