The fund comes at a crucial time, as borough authorities were urged to support al fresco dining and late-night openings, particularly with the pressures that many businesses face in the current economic climate.
“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.”
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
The announcement has been warmly welcomed by industry leaders, including Michael Kill, Chief Executive of the Night Time Industries Association, who called it “a vital and timely move by the mayor that signals loud and clear: London is open for business and ready to thrive this summer.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, also praised the initiative, describing the Summer Streets scheme as “a positive first step towards improving London’s licensing regime.”
“We look forward to working with the mayor and London’s councils to remove barriers that prevent pubs from doing what they do best – serving up great pints and a warm welcome to Londoners and visitors alike.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association
The Summer Streets Fund has significant potential for Croydon, with the opportunity to boost local businesses, enhance the town centre experience, and support economic recovery.
“As the warmer weather returns, this recent announcement by the Mayor of London is a step in the right direction to support a sector in urgent need of support. The Summer Streets Fund creates real opportunities for our businesses to trade more flexibly, increase footfall, and enhance the overall town centre experience. Al fresco dining isn’t just about tables and chairs – it’s about creating vibrant, social spaces that bring our streets to life and support local economic recovery. We will be advocating for Croydon Council to apply to the fund so that we can work together to boost Croydon’s hospitality sector.”
Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon BID
