London boroughs to go al fresco for summer
The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched the £300,000 (US$402,817) Summer Streets Fund, which will help areas of the capital offer al fresco dining and drinking this summer.
The areas included in the fund are Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster.
The fund is part of Khan’s commitment to outdoor dining and longer opening hours. The government may soon grant the mayor new licensing powers, which could allow him to overturn decisions made by local councils.
Khan said: “I’m delighted to announce the first of many new al fresco hotspots across the capital to help Londoners and visitors make the most of our summer this year. With new car-free, al fresco dining in Westminster, Shoreditch, Brixton and Leyton, there will be new and fantastic spaces to bring people together.
“The schemes announced today are just the beginning. We’re looking to build on their success across London in the years ahead.
“London’s food, drink and nightlife scenes are world class and I’m determined to do all I can to help them thrive. With new licensing powers granted by the government being developed, I’m looking forward to doing even more – working with boroughs, businesses and the police to drive forward more initiatives like these.
“We saw what a success it was during the pandemic. I want to expand al fresco dining further in the years to come, all part of building a better London for everyone.”
Extended car-free zones
In Westminster, St Martin’s Lane in the West End will be car-free from 11am to 11pm, allowing pubs and bars to provide open-air drinking and dining on the street. This was previously allowed following the pandemic.
Up to 34 businesses will be given al fresco licences for summer. Plans are also being brought forward to make the move permanent.
Meanwhile, in Shoreditch, two streets will become car-free for the first time: Rivington Street and Redchurch Street. The scheme will apply on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. On-trade businesses can apply for free licences for the first three months.
In Brixton, there will be additional car-free days on Atlantic Road on select weekends until October. From August to September, the ‘Brixton Summer Zone’ will apply on Saturday evenings, offering open-access outdoor seating to encourage people to visit the market and enjoy live entertainment.
Francis Road in Leyton will also extend its car-free hours, with additional outdoor dining provided in the Leyton Midland Road.
Earlier this year, Khan launched an independent taskforce to address the issues facing the capital’s nightlife businesses.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association and member of the taskforce, said: “The launch of al fresco dining in key areas like Brixton, Shoreditch, Leyton and the West End marks the beginning of an important initiative that supports the recovery and long-term growth of London’s nightlife and hospitality sector.
“Creating vibrant, accessible outdoor spaces for food, drink and culture is a powerful way to bring communities together and boost local economies. We see this as a strong foundation – and hope it will grow into a city-wide movement that helps reshape and revitalise London’s nightlife for years to come.”
Last year, we looked into what could be done to save the capital’s nightlife.
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