The Last Straw: Barbican backs our campaign to banish plastic from capital

The Barbican arts complex in the City has joined the Standard’s campaign to stop single-use plastic straws being handed out with drinks.

Managing director Sir Nicholas Kenyon today confirmed that plastic straws were being withdrawn from all the centre’s bars, restaurants and cafés.

The complex, which puts on about 3,800 events annually and attracted 1.1 million visitors last year, handed out about 50,000 plastic straws. From now on it will give out paper straws on request.

Sir Nicholas said: “We are grateful to our catering partners for their support with this.

“We will go further in the coming months as we explore in our 2018 season, The Art of Change, the roles and responsibilities of citizens, artists and arts centres in responding to the challenges of future sustainability.”