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New Year’s Eve is a busy time for many businesses and Waterloo is a focal point for celebrations in London, with hundreds of thousands of people flocking to the South Bank to watch the Mayor’s celebratory fireworks.
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Waterloo Quarter have been working with Jack Morton Worldwide, who are the events management company employed by the Mayor’s office to run the festivities, as well as the police and Licensing Officers who are all involved in ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Whether you are a business open on the night, coming to watch the fireworks or to celebrate in the local pubs and bars, the following information will ensure you make the most of the evening:
Crowd Management
- There will be a series of controlled viewing areas which have a finite capacity. All viewing areas are likely to be full by 22.30.
- The combined capacity of all the viewing areas north and south of the river is 250,000; however there will be many more trying to view the fireworks, with unofficial estimates at near 500,000 people.
- There will be a three mile long walking diversion set up around the edge of the river, from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge, and once all areas are full, people will not be able to cross the river via the bridges within the zone and will be diverted onto the walking route.
- Waterloo Station is the key transport hub for this
event and there will be thousands of people needing to access the station to get home. Crowds will be marshalled by the police who will queue people along Baylis Road and lead them up Spur Road to Station Approach Road to access the station.
- Lower Marsh will be closed to traffic and pedestrians at 20.00. Residents and employees from businesses on Lower Marsh are advised to carry identification to allow them access to their work or home. WQ is seeking clarification on whether legitimate customers will gain access to businesses on Lower Marsh after this time.
Keeping Safe
Pubs, bars and restaurants will be particularly busy and Licensing Officers have suggested their top tips for licensees to ensure a successful evening:
- Try to have all customers on the premises before 23.30 and avoid having people queuing outside after this time.
- Try to keep customers on the premises by showing the fireworks on TV screens and advise them that if they leave after 23.30 they are unlikely to get back in due to the queues for the station and diversions in place.
- If you are holding events, having outside drinking, or extended opening hours, you need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). Applications relating to 31st December should be received by the Council Licensing Section and Police Licensing Team by 14th December.
- If you have off-sales and people drinking outside, please try to source plastic or polycarbonate bottles and drinking glasses. Avoid any glass.
For further information, please contact Katie Lindsay klindsay@waterlooquarter.org or 020 7620 1309.
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