Sir Sadiq Khan

LONDON mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s “Summer Streets Fund” will see a new outdoor dining regime open in St Martin’s Lane on August 22.

The scheme, backed by £300,000 from City Hall, has already created outdoor dining set-ups in Leyton, Shoreditch and Brixton. Once in place, St Martin’s Lane will be car-free from 11am to 11pm with al fresco licences available for up to 34 businesses.

Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to several restaurant and café owners there, who said they had licences running until the end of October.

Al fresco schemes in the West End have in the past been divisive, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. West End residents have said they have led to unacceptable noise, while closing roads caused accessibility problems for disabled people.

But all the businesses LDRS spoke to were optimistic about the project.

Natalia Prusik, general manager at Côte Brasserie, said it would have been much “more exciting” if it started in May “…but we will take it as it comes. But it’s really good for the business for sure.” Ms Prusik said they are to have around 14 tables on the street and 28 covers.

Antonio Simonte, general manager at the Italian restaurant Fumo, echoed her enthusiasm. “It’s been a number of years I have tried to get tables outside,” he said. “We should have started earlier I believe. It’s the end of August.”

And he would like to see the scheme rolled out in future years and to make the most of the summer weather, he said.

Other spots which confirmed they will be involved included The Real Greek, La Roche, Pizza Express and Browns.

The Summer Streets Fund aims to support the hospitality industry and boost outdoor eating and drinking. Announcing the scheme, Sir Sadiq (inset) said: “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 the 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.”

A spokesperson for the city council said: “Westminster is home to a thriving al fresco dining scene, with over 900 licences for outdoor dining granted in the past six months alone. We recognise the enthusiasm for al fresco dining and we are committed to supporting our vibrant hospitality sector, while also recognising the practical challenges, such as for transport networks, and the need to listen to the issues faced by residents in high-impact areas.

“The St Martin’s Lane initiative, in the heart of West End Theatreland, is part of a broader programme to help visitors make the most of Westminster’s world-class restaurants, bars, and cultural destinations this summer. This includes the hugely popular West End Live, celebrating its 20th year this weekend, and the return of Inside Out, our free outdoor arts festival.

“We will soon be launching a new evening market in Rupert Street in Soho, featuring themed food nights and live arts events.

“And with our ‘Westminster After Dark’ consultation, which closes this weekend, we’re aiming to bring more people into the West End to enjoy the unique and exciting nightlife it has to offer.”