The Mayor of London has announced new open-air dining and drinking areas in parts of the capital to help boost the city’s hospitality sector over the summer.
Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster are the first boroughs to benefit from the new Summer Streets Fund. Harrow has not been included in the first phase of the scheme.
The £300,000 fund will help turn parts of these areas into car-free zones where people can enjoy food, drinks and entertainment outdoors, with extended opening hours and support for local businesses.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq 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, Leyton there will be new and fantastic spaces to bring people together.
“The schemes announced today are just the beginning and 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 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, and I want to expand al fresco dining further in the years to come, all part of building a better London for everyone.”
In Westminster, the popular al fresco setup on St Martin’s Lane will return. The road will be closed to traffic between 11am and 11pm, allowing up to 34 businesses to serve customers outside. The council is looking to make the scheme permanent.
In Hackney, Shoreditch’s Rivington Street and Redchurch Street will become car-free on Fridays and Saturdays this summer, with bars and restaurants allowed to stay open for outdoor service until midnight for the first time.
Brixton will gain 400 square metres of new dining space with 80 extra tables and 400 seats on Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road. On selected weekends, roads will close to cars until 10pm, with live music, markets and art workshops during the day.
Leyton will extend car-free hours on Francis Road, with plans for street trading, outdoor games, and a weekend market. A summer event will also take place at Leyton Midland Road.
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “There’s no place like London in the summer and today’s announcement will provide a fantastic opportunity for people to enjoy our incredible restaurants, pubs and bars. These new outdoor dining hotspots will bring our streets to life, creating new hubs for people to enjoy a drink or meal outside. It’s just the start of what’s to come!”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, 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.”
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, said: “I’m delighted that there has been such significant interest from London boroughs in the Summer Streets Fund and that we’re seeing swift decisions on successful schemes.
“These initiatives can provide a real boost for hospitality businesses, Londoners and visitors to the capital. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of this investment and even more Boroughs getting involved.”
Councillor Max Sullivan, Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Streets, said: “We’re proud to support the return of al fresco dining in St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End. By making space for people to enjoy food and drink outdoors, we’re helping local businesses thrive and creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
“We are looking forward to developing a permanent scheme which builds on this Summer Street to bring people together and support our outstanding hospitality industry.”
Councillor Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion at Lambeth Council, said: “Brixton thrives in the summer, and by expanding our evening dining and entertainment options, we’re creating more vibrant, welcoming spaces for the community to enjoy during those wonderful months. These initiatives will not only enhance the local experience but also provide a vital boost to our hospitality sector and wider local economy.”
Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration for Waltham Forest, said: “I’m really pleased that Waltham Forest is one of the first four boroughs to benefit from the Mayor of London’s Summer Streets fund. The money will be used for several fantastic projects in Leyton, including a new street market in Francis Road where residents will have opportunities to support great local traders, and this year’s Leyton Mas carnival in mid-July.
“Like the Mayor, I want to see a vibrant and bustling local economy that prioritises sustainable growth. Giving small local businesses more freedom to open longer will help them thrive as we create an economy that works for everyone.”
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
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