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This summer has been all about the sporadic heatwaves, and the good weather looks set to continue through to the end of August. So it’s a perfectly-timed treat that the streets of the West End will be opening up spaces for al fresco dining as part of the Mayor of London’s Summer Streets Fund.
Starting this Friday (August 22), part of the West End will be pedestrianised between 11am and 11pm, going car-free and opening up the space for businesses on the street to allow for outdoor dining. As per MyLondon, this scheme will run until October of this year.
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A date was not provided for the pedestrianisation of St Martin’s Lane, but according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), several restaurants in the area had confirmed their outdoor licences would come into place on Friday. Spots included in the LDRS report that will be offering outdoor seating include Fumo, The Real Greek, Côte Brasserie, Pizza Express, Browns, La Roche, and more.
This move marks the fourth area to be transformed into an al fresco hub through the Summer Streets Fund, with the West End following Brixton (Atlantic Road), Shoreditch (Redchurch Street and Rivington Street), and Leyton (Francis Road). A £300,000 budget was put aside as part of the fund, with St Martin’s Lane having £50,000 to support up to 34 businesses in taking advantage of the pedestrianised area for outdoor dining.
Speaking on the news, a spokesperson for Westminster 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.
“The St Martin’s Lane initiative, in the heart of West End Theatre Land, is part of a broader programme to help visitors make the most of Westminster’s world-class restaurants, bars, and cultural destinations this summer.”
You can read more about the Summer Streets Fund here. St Martin’s Lane is set to be pedestrianised between 11am and 11pm from August 22 until October to allow for outdoor dining space.