The £300,000 scheme, which was announced by Sadiq Khan last month, will see streets transformed into open-air dining areas, with Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster the first four boroughs to set to benefit.
In Westminster, St Martin’s Lane will be car-free from 11am-11pm with al fresco licences available for up to 34 businesses. Plans will be brought forward to make this permanent in the coming months.
Rivington Street and Redchurch Street in Shoreditch is set to be car free on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer and businesses with operators able to offer outdoor dining and drinking until midnight and able to apply for free licences for the first three months.
In Brixton, 400sqm of outdoor dining space will provide around 80 extra tables and 400 extra seats for businesses in Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road. Running on selected weekends, the roads will become car free zones until 10pm, with daytime activities including food markets, art workshops and live music.
Additionally, Francis Road in Leyton will extend its car free hours with further outdoor dining to be made available in the Leyton Midland Road as part of a summer event.
“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,” says Khan.
“With new car-free, al fresco dining in Westminster, Shoreditch, Brixton, Leyton there will be new and fantastic spaces to bring people together.”
The Mayor, who is also set to receive new powers in the coming months to review and overturn blocked licensing applications in areas of ‘strategic importance’ for the night-time economy under a Government pilot to slash red tape for the hospitality industry, adds that he is keen to build on the Summer Streets Fund 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,” he continues.
“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.”
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, believes the scheme can provide a real boost for hospitality businesses.
“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,” she says.
“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.”