The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new £300,000 fund to boost al fresco dining and help grow the capital’s nighttime economy.
The Summer Streets Fund will allow councils to apply for a share of the money to create new outdoor eating and drinking hubs, enabling business to cut through red tape and simplify the processes of extending their space and their opening hours this summer.
The funding announcement follows the launch of the London Growth Plan in February, in partnership with London Councils, to support the city’s high streets, enabling local economies to thrive. The action comes as the Government announced its intention to give new licensing powers to the Mayor of London, allowing Sadiq “call in” powers to review blocked licensing applications in nightlife hotspots, grant more al fresco dining spots and cut bureaucratic red tape.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the greatest city in the world and as summer approaches and our city is set to welcome millions of tourists, I’m keen to put al fresco dining and later opening hours back on the menu.
“London’s world-class range of restaurants, cafes and bars is part of what makes our city special, but too often they have found themselves restricted through bureaucracy and rules constraining their growth. This new £300,000 Summer Streets Fund will help to kickstart al fresco dining and extend opening hours this summer, allowing the industry to thrive.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with councils and our fantastic hospitality sector to cut red tape and give the sector the boost it needs, ensuring decisions are made in the best interests of the city. Hospitality is one of London’s biggest employers so a thriving sector will drive growth and deliver more jobs across the city, helping us to continue building a better London for everyone.”
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, added: “A growth-first approach to licensing and regulation that supports hospitality businesses, cuts red tape and delivers what customers want is the right thing for the Mayor to focus on. With the busy summer months fast approaching, new funding to drive the use of outside space can provide a real boost to the sector and I urge London boroughs to get behind this initiative.”
