£400,000 will be made available to London councils to boost hospitality over summer, writes Cristina Trujillo…
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the return of his Summer Streets fund, which will help councils support local businesses to increase events and al-fresco dining, plus extend opening hours in the warmer months.
Launched last year to amplify hospitality across the capital, the Summer Streets fund’s previous successes include pilots in Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster, which were transformed into open-air dining spaces.
Sadiq Khan said: “It was fantastic to see Londoners and visitors enjoying al fresco dining across our capital last year, so I’m delighted to announce the return of my Summer Streets fund.
“I want our wonderful cafes, bars and restaurants to be able to expand outdoor dining and opening hours throughout the summer, providing a great experience for all and a real boost to business, especially with the World Cup set to bring people together.
“I want this summer to be the biggest ever summer for al fresco dining in our capital’s history, and I’ll continue to support our vital hospitality and nightlife industries, as we build a better London for everyone.”
With the men’s football World Cup due to start in June, the plan capitalises on the swell in tourism and spending seen in London as weather improves.
£300,000 will be available for large scale project with grants of up to £100,000, while £100,000 will be available for smaller projects, with grants of up to £10,000.
The fund will be open for applications in April, with boroughs and partners expected to provide match funding. Cafes, small nightlife venues, pubs, businesses and live music venues are all welcome to participate.
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The plan aims to increase pedestrianisation projects that facilitate al-fresco dining in London’s streets, and ‘pocket alfresco’ schemes geared at expanding outdoor spaces to increase sales, community and culture.
The drive to support the London bars, cafes, hospitality and nightlife economy comes amid a huge number of challenges faced by hospitality lately, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis.
UKHospitality chair Kate Nicholls said: “With a huge summer of sport ahead of us, it’s great that the Mayor is bringing back his Summer Street Fund to support London’s hospitality businesses.
“We saw the success of the scheme last year, helping to drive footfall and boost trade for our local pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. I encourage boroughs to move quickly to take advantage of this fund to once again make Summer Streets a success.”
