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That’s if licenses issued by Swindon Borough Council last year are any guide.
Members of the authority’s licensing committee heard from the head of regulatory services Kate Bishop as she presented an update on the licensing team’s performance.
And the figures of the different types of licenses issued in 2023-23 gives an insight into the state of the town’s businesses.
Ms Bishop said: “It should be noted that there have been significant increases in demand for many licenses since 2021/22 and this reflects the fact that Swindon is ‘open for business’ following Covid.
“Street trading permit numbers have increased following the two years previous and it’s good to see the taxi trade returning to those levels.”
The numbers reveal a noticeable rebound from the traumatic years of 2020-21 and 2021-22.
There were 1,170 licenses for taxi drivers issued in 2022-23, a huge increase on the 230 issued in 2021-22, and heading towards the pre-pandemic high of 1,601 licenses issued in 2018-19.
Another recovery is being seen in the events sector – there were 191 temporary event licenses last year, only half of the 414 in 2019-20 but many times more than the 11 issued in 20-21 and the 26 in 2021-22.
There has been a two-fold increase in general animal-related applications up to 24 in the last year, compared to 12 in each of the two years before the pandemic.
Specific types of animal licenses remained largely stable, with an increase in those issued to dog breeders to five after an effort by licensing officers to follow up non-licensed breeders and make sure they meet the required standard.
There are now four businesses in Swindon which make horses available for hire.
Other licensing applications also show the impact of the increase in everyday prices, especially energy and food.
The demand for charity collections has increased hugely, with 68 licenses last year compared to zero and four in the two years before 2020.
Demand for gambling licenses has dropped from 57 in 2019-20 to just seven in the last financial year which ended in March.
Piercing and tattooing, one of Britain’s boom industries in the last 10 years, remains strong, with 62 licenses last year, and the only dip being in 2020-21.
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