Mayor announces new Summer Streets al fresco dining hotspots to boost capital’s hospitality industry this summer

• Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch and the West End are the first beneficiaries of the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund and will introduce al fresco dining and later opening hours this summer thanks to funding from the Mayor
• Sadiq’s £300,000 fund puts al fresco dining back on the menu, giving Londoners and tourists new areas to enjoy dinner and drinks throughout the summer
• Action comes ahead of the Mayor being granted new licensing powers from Government to help boost the capital’s nightlife
• The Mayor says he wants more al fresco dining across the whole of the capital, saying these schemes are ‘just the beginning’

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced new al fresco dining and drinking hotspots that will allow Londoners and visitors to make of the most of the capital’s summer months.

Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster boroughs will see streets transformed into open-air dining areas, thanks to funding from the Mayor to boost the capital’s hospitality industry.

Sadiq’s £300,000 Summer Streets Fund will enable areas across the capital to open-up this summer and reflects the Mayor’s commitment to outdoor dining and longer opening hours ahead of being granted new licensing powers from Government to help boost the capital’s nightlife. The Mayor is keen to build on this early expansion across London in the years ahead, putting al fresco dining on the menu for all Londoners and offering more choice and more time for Londoners to enjoy the best the capital has to offer.

The first wave of successful schemes are:

• Westminster - After a widely popular al fresco programme during the pandemic, pubs, bars and restaurants on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End will be able to provide open air dining and drinking once again. The iconic street will be car-free from 11am-11pm and al fresco licences available for up to 34 businesses. Plans will be brought forward to make this permanent in the coming months.
• Shoreditch - For the first time ever independent bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street will be able to offer outdoor dining and drinking until midnight. Both streets will be car free on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer and businesses will be able to apply for free licences for the first three months.
• Brixton – More Car Free Days on Atlantic Road on select weekends through to October, extending into the evening to support local dining and entertainment to benefit businesses and residents alike. From August to September, Brixton’s first “Brixton Summer Zone” will be available on Saturday evenings, offering open-access outdoor seating where people can relax with food, enhanced by live performances, workshops, and Brixton's market traders.
• Leyton – Francis Road will extend its car free hours, making it a hub for street trading and a cultural meeting point with seating, outdoor games, late events and a weekend market. There will be further outdoor dining in the Leyton Midland Road as part of a summer event.   

London’s hospitality, leisure and tourism are critical to the success of the capital and growth nationally, generating more than £46 billion every year* and accounting for one in 10 jobs in London. As temperatures rise and with more than five million tourists expected to visit this summer alone, the Mayor is committed to doing all he can to support these industries and in the last year the number of late night hospitality sites in London has grown faster than anywhere else in the country**.

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. 

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.”