“In London, we’re seeing a big trend towards a variety of services at night,” she said.
“While we love our bars, pubs and clubs, it’s also about keeping libraries open late at night, and one of the great phenomena is late night ice cream parlors.
Lutz Leichsenring said Melbourne and Berlin had similar problems: gentrification and rising living costs prevented many from enjoying the city.Credit: alamy
“So if you feel like you need some sugar at 2 a.m. … then we’re definitely your city.”
Lame has been under pressure throughout her seven years as Czar of the Night. In 2020, there were calls for her removal after a petition claimed she had not adequately advocated for London’s nighttime culture during COVID-19.
However, Lamé says there is a global need for night mayors, and her focus has expanded to include night workers.
“There’s a big inequality between people who work at night and people who work during the day,” she said.
Melbourne night shift mayor Penny Miles said the city’s night shift workers needed to be looked after.Credit: Simon Schlutter
“You’re twice as likely to be earning less than the London living wage compared to working the exact same job during the day. That’s unacceptable.
“And if you work at night, your commute will be longer and you will have less job support from management, training and unions.”
Melbourne City Center director and University of Melbourne professor Michele Acuto said we needed to emulate London in recognizing and supporting night shift workers.
“In London, they care about the bus drivers, not just the people on the bus,” he said.
Penny Miles, Melbourne’s night market mayor, serves as the city’s chairman Evening Economic Advisory Committeesaying these workers work in “more vulnerable” spaces.
“In Melbourne in particular, there’s been a massive loss of staff in the hospitality and arts industries,” Myers said.
“We need to really focus on this as a profession, as a group that deserves to be paid equally and facilitated in how they work, how they care and how they care.”
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By 10.30pm on Friday, Bomba’s bar was sold out, and the team had lost a night market mayor back home.
But Lutz Leichsenring, Berlin’s night market mayor and co-founder of the advocacy group Atmosphere LabStill going strong.
He enjoyed Melbourne’s nightlife, but said there were similar issues to his home: increasing gentrification and rising living costs prevented many from participating.
“If your nightlife is just bankers, it’s boring,” he said. “You want misfits, nonconformists.”
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