New alfresco dining hotspots have been announced across London this summer in a bid to boost the capital’s nightlife.
Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch, and the West End will be the first areas to receive cash from the Mayor of London’s summer streets fund - to introduce alfresco dining and later opening hours this summer.
It follows the success of outdoor dining during the Covid pandemic, when much of Soho was pedestrianised in the summers of 2020 and 2021, with diners spilling out onto pavements while adhering to social distancing rules.
However Soho is not part of the new scheme announced on Thursday.
Sadiq Khan has said the move is “just the beginning”, as he looks to build on their success and introduce alfresco dining schemes across London.
“London’s food, drink and nightlife scenes are world-class and I’m determined to do all I can to help them thrive,” he said.
“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.”
At St Martin's Lane in the West End, up to 34 businesses will get alfresco licenses and the street will be car-free from 11am to 11pm.
In Shoreditch, customers will be able to dine and drink outdoors at bars and restaurants in Rivington Street and Redchurch Street until midnight and have car-free Fridays and Saturdays.
In Brixton, businesses in Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road will get 80 extra tables and some 400 extra seats outdoors. The roads will be car-free until 10pm on selected weekends.
In Leyton, there will be extended car-free hours to boost street trading and create a cultural meeting point with seating, outdoor games and a new weekend street market.
Hackney and Lambeth councils will get £100,000 each from the fund while Waltham Forest and Westminster councils will get £50,000 each.
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, expressed her delight at the announcement and said “there has been such significant interest from London boroughs in the Summer Streets Fund and that we're seeing swift decisions on successful schemes.”
Sir Sadiq is due to be granted new licensing powers to intervene and overturn decisions that block pubs and clubs trying to secure longer opening hours and offering outdoor seating.
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!”
