It was party times rather than party lines for Kingston councillors as they showed off the borough’s nightlife to City Hall’s night tsar Amy Lamé.

The US-born comedian toured Kingston’s bars and clubs alongside council leader Kevin Davis and a host of councillors as well representatives from Kingston police on Friday, February 3.

The visit took place as part of Ms Lamé’s  ‘night surgeries’, during which she visits different boroughs to talk to residents, night time workers, licensees, staff and night pastors.

She said: “It was great to hear that Kingston is already doing night time surgeries on a local level and I was really interested to hear about and see some of the great work that has been going on in the borough.

Kingston is a wonderful place with a vibrant nightlife and a big student community. I was impressed with the ‘tea and toast room’ at one of the club venues we visited and it was lovely meeting the night pastors and the valuable work they do.”

Kingston Council was accused of “attacking” the borough’s nightlife after approving a stricter policy for bars and clubs in July last year.

In October, a posh pizza chain pulled out of opening a restaurant in Kingston’s historic Market House, blaming “stringent licensing constraints” that would make it “impossible to run a successful restaurant”.

Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis welcomed Ms Lamé’s visit, despite originally criticising the appointment of the “divisive American” to manage London’s night time economy.

He said: “Although we are one of the most historic London boroughs, we have a very busy nightlife that is growing, of which our nightclubs are a part of.”

“We want to continue to attract and support new businesses to enhance our diverse night time economy and welcome the Mayor’s focus to develop town centre economies outside of London.”

Amy Lamé’s appointment was criticised amid accusations she had taken part in online trolling and questions over her links to the Labour Party.

Questions were also raised over City Hall’s decision to pay Ms Lamé through a private service company, which senior conservatives claimed would help her avoid taxes.

Kingston MP James Berry was among those to criticise her appointment.