“Summer Streets” fund coming to London boroughs this summer

Last year’s rainy summer dealt a major blow to pubs and bars. But some London hospitality firms  will soon be warmed by the “Summer Streets Fund”, a new scheme designed to boost summer spending as the hot weather continues.

Run by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the fund will be used to transform streets in selected areas into open-air food and drink hotspots, in order to support local hospitality businesses. Since COVID, data shows that over 3,000 pubs and bars have closed in the city.

Commenting on the announcement, Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality, said: “These initiatives can provide a real boost for hospitality businesses. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of this investment and even more Boroughs getting involved.”

What is the Summer Streets Fund?

Outdoor spaces, such as beer gardens and alleyway seating, can be a huge moneymaker in summer. As temperatures rise, customers are looking for more places to go out, grab some food and drinks, and soak up the sunshine, ‘European-style’. 

First announced by Khan in May, the Summer Streets Fund is a pilot fund that will be used to help restaurants, cafes, pubs, and live music venues meet this new demand from customers.

The £300,000 fund is essentially a placemaking strategy to reimagine how Londoners use their streets. It builds on lessons learned during COVID, when outdoor dining became a lifeline for hospitality businesses and a beloved feature of city life.

By turning select areas into traffic-free zones, and granting special licences for extended outdoor service, the fund is designed to help businesses increase their seating capacity, draw larger crowds, and improve revenues during the peak summer months.

Councillor Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion at Lambeth Council, said: “By expanding our evening dining and entertainment options, we’re creating more vibrant, welcoming spaces for the community to enjoy during those wonderful months.”

Will my business get funding?

The first four London councils to benefit from the scheme have now been confirmed. They are: Westminster, Shoreditch, Hackney, and Lambeth. 

Westminster Council (£50,000)

Food and drink businesses on St Martin’s Lane in the West End will be made car free from 11am-11pm, and al fresco licences will also be available for up to 34 businesses.

Hackney Council (£100,000)

Bars and restaurants on Rivington Street and Redchurch Street will be able to offer outdoor dining and drinking until midnight, and both streets will be car free on Fridays and Saturdays. As well, businesses will be able to apply for free licences for the first three months.

Lambeth Council (£100,000)

Throughout August, Brixton’s first “Brixton Summer Zone” will be available on Saturday evenings, offering open-access outdoor seating for customers.

Waltham Forest (£50,000)

Francis Road in Leyton will extend its car free hours, also making it a hub for street trading. There will be further outdoor dining in the Leyton Midland Road as part of a summer event.  

Summer Streets fund “just the beginning”, says Khan

Protecting the capital’s eateries and drinks businesses seems to be a key priority for the Mayor this year. Data shows that London’s hospitality, leisure, and tourism businesses generate more than £46 billion every year and account for 10% of all jobs in the city.

Rising costs and changing customer spending habits, though, have sadly put many many small and independent businesses in danger of closure. 

Earlier this year, the government announced it would give Khan new powers to help pubs and clubs stay open later to protect jobs and support the city’s struggling nightlife economy. 

Khan said, “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. 

“The schemes announced today are just the beginning and we’re looking to build on their success across London in the years ahead.”