As soon as the temperature in London starts to inch its way into the double digits, I have just one thing on my mind: being outdoors. Now, please don’t get it twisted. By no means do I intend to spend the next few months hiking up mountains or plunging myself into ice cold water. My definition of ‘the great outdoors’ is being sat out in the sunshine with a glass of wine in one hand, and some form of ‘picky bit’ in the other, yapping away with my friends. And it seems as though Sadiq Khan may have actually read the room on this one, as he has just announced the return of his ‘Summer Streets Fund‘.
The Summer Streets Fund
The Summer Streets Fund was first introduced last year in a bid to boost London’s al-fresco hospitality and nightlife scene throughout the sunny months. And it’s back again and even bigger than before – because last year the fund was £300,000, but this year, it’s a rather hefty £400,000.
The £400,000 fund will encourage councils across the capital to support local venues with expanding their al-fresco areas and extending their opening hours. Councils can apply for a share of the fund to work closely with local businesses in their areas including bars, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and live music venues. Last year’s fund saw successful summery schemes launched in the boroughs of Lambeth, Hackney, Waltham Forest, and Westminster.
This year’s fund will offer grants of up to £100,000 which can be used to deliver large-scale pedestrianisation projects (much like the one that took place on St Martin’s Lane last year). There will also be smaller-scheme £10,000 grants available to help venues level up their al-fresco offerings.
With millions of tourists set to descend upon the capital city this summer; London’s hospitality sector continues to be a crucial part of the capital’s economic success. The return of the Summer Streets Fund comes as a key part of Sadiq Khan’s proposed late-night licensing plans. And look, if the Mayor wants to level up our summer socialising plans, who are we to object?
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, 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”.
