- Redchurch Street and Rivington Street in Shoreditch host weekend al fresco dining thanks to funding from the Mayor
- Sadiq’s Summer Streets Fund is helping four boroughs to create al fresco dining and drinking hotspots across the capital, ahead of further action to boost London’s nightlife
- Deputy Mayor for Business, Howard Dawber OBE, visits local businesses who are benefitting from the new Summer Streets scheme
For the first time ever, independent bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street in Shoreditch will be offering al fresco dining and drinking, thanks to funding from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Londoners and visitors will be able to enjoy outside dinner and drinks every Friday and Saturday from tonight until the end of the year, with the roads closed to traffic from 6pm to midnight.
The new outdoor eating and drinking area in Hackney is one of four new schemes that the Mayor is funding across the capital through his £300,000 Summer Streets Fund. The funding is part of Sadiq’s commitment to increase outdoor dining and extend opening hours to offer more choice to Londoners and help support businesses. This is ahead of the
Mayor being granted new licensing powers from the Government to help boost the capital’s nightlife.
In Shoreditch, a wide range of businesses are taking part in the new al fresco dining. Londoners and visitors can enjoy a variety of cuisines from around the world from:
Other sites being supported by the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund include schemes across Lambeth, Waltham Forest and Westminster. In Leyton, Francis Road is extending car free hours, with outdoor dining in Leyton Midland Road. In Brixton, there are more car free days on Atlantic Road and “Brixton Summer Zone”, with outdoor seating and live performances to be officially launched later this month. Soon bars and restaurants on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End will also be able to provide open air dining and drinking.
Creating new al fresco dining spots is one of many initiatives by the Mayor to support London’s hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors. For example, he has also created an independent Nightlife Taskforce to help boost the capital’s life at night. These industries are critical to the success of the capital, as well as growth nationally, generating more than £46 billion every year* and accounting for one in 10 jobs in London. 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 be able to support bars and restaurants in Shoreditch to offer al fresco dining from today. Through my Summer Streets Fund we are helping to put outdoor dining back on the menu, supporting businesses and helping Londoners and visitors to make the most of the summer. I’m determined to do all I can to support London’s fantastic restaurants, cafes and bars, and these schemes are just the beginning of what’s to come as we continue to work with partners across the capital to revitalise our nightlife and build a better London for everyone.”
Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business, said: “The Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund was designed to empower local businesses, stimulate enterprise and provide exciting opportunities for Londoners and visitors. It’s just one of the ways we are helping to boost London’s night time economy, and it’s great to see this new scheme bringing outdoor dining to Shoreditch tonight.”
Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: “We are thrilled that Hackney has been chosen by the Mayor of London to participate in the Summer Streets al fresco dining scheme, which I believe will significantly boost our world-renowned nightlife. By pedestrianising Rivington Street and Redchurch Street on Friday and Saturday nights, we can offer more space for residents and visitors, in particular families, to enjoy some of the fantastic venues and food Shoreditch has to offer, with increased outdoor seating. I am excited to support this scheme as I believe it will be great for businesses and residents.”
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