Soho isn't just for residents, so why do they get all the say?

Soho could be a pedestrianised wonderland, but Nimbyism plus a council that has no incentive to generate revenue is punishing all Londoners, writes Joe Hill

There is no consensus on how Soho got its name , but it has given it to many other districts across the world – there are Sohos (with varied spellings) as far afield as New York, Buenos Aires, Shanghai and Beijing. What started as a hunting ground gave way to farmland, then housing for the landed gentry and began to resemble the modern-day entertainment district from the end of the 19th century onwards.

But despite its central location and ease of access from across London, Soho is struggling.

During the pandemic, Westminster City Council allowed the area to be pedestrianised. They relaxed licensing rules and blocked off through-t