Playing with fire? Covent Garden street artists in high-stakes fight against council

From the fire eaters to high-wire walkers and knife jugglers, the street performers of Covent Garden in central London have been drawing rapt crowds for centuries.

- Daniel Boffey

The magicians, daredevils and illusionists are now attempting their most challenging trick yet: avoiding police enforcement of council regulations that they say could end the traditional fun at the historic market square by Christmas.

In April 2021, Westminster council introduced a fee-based licensing system for buskers and street performers. The council said it was reacting to complaints of noise pollution from businesses and residents, particularly around Leicester Square.

The 100 members of the Covent Garden Street Performers Association have refused to engage and apply for licences, insisting that self-regulation has worked well for decades and the new restrictions on pitch sizes, noise and dangerous props will put them out of business.

Attempts by city inspectors to shut down unlicensed acts performing on Covent Garden's piazzas over the last year triggered angry reactions from hundreds of spectators who had been enjoying the shows, prompting a hasty withdrawal from confrontation. The police had other priorities, the council conceded.

With non-compliance making a mockery of the scheme, councillors will discuss on 4 December whether to fund further enforcement efforts.