Outdoor dining 'must become the norm' in London

Justine Simmons (seen in white dress) says al fresco dining is "hugely popular"

Outdoor dining must become the "norm rather than the exception" in London, one of the city's deputy mayors has said.

Justine Simons said she believed the capital must look to emulate cities like Barcelona and Paris as she launched London's fourth al fresco dining scheme.

The borough has been given £50,000 from the mayor's £300,000 Summer Streets Fund to ensure pubs, bars and restaurants can operate outdoor service from 11am to 11pm until October.

On Monday, leaders in the hospitality industry said that more than half of the UK's job losses since October had come from their sector, with some citing tax changes in the government's last budget as a major factor.

Speaking from the newly pedestrianised St Martin's Lane in the West End, Ms Simmons said all 32 boroughs of London had been invited to get involved.

Ms Simons told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "This is about reimagining London's streets, going al fresco, and making it the norm rather than the exception.

"If we go to cities like Barcelona or Paris, it's much more part of everyday life, isn't it? So we want that in London. This is really the start of it. It's starting to create a kind of sea change to imagine our city as an outdoor kind of urban environment."

City Hall has written to all borough councils to urge them "to do more al fresco," the deputy mayor said.

While Paris and London both average between 2C and 8C in January, Barcelona is warmer with an average temperature of about 13C.

In summer the Spanish city has average daytime temperatures ranging from approximately 26C to 30C, with average nightly temperatures between 19C and 23C.

Summers in London and Paris are cooler, but can experience temperatures above 30C for some periods and warm nights.

St Martin's Lane has been part-pedestrianised with the help of money from the Summer Streets Fund

Ms Simons added they were in talks with the government to get "more strategic licensing powers" to help grow the hospitality sector.

"This is a big opportunity for London," Ms Simmons said. "This is a long-term ambition – and we've made a great start."

Recently released City Hall analysis showed that if London's licensing resembled New York City, where the mayor can influence rules and regulations through changes to local laws, the capital's economy could be boosted by £2bn annually as businesses are allowed to extend their opening hours and offer al fresco dining.

Earlier this year ministers said they intend to give Sir Sadiq Khan new licensing powers which could allow him to overturn London council bans on later opening hours.

Analysis of Office for National Statistics data by UKHospitality, a trade body, found nearly 90,000 jobs have been lost in restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels since the government's budget.

The group said higher taxes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Autumn Budget had disproportionately slowed down investment and hiring, adding that "urgent action" was needed to cut business rates and VAT.

The Treasury said it was helping pubs, cafes and restaurants by extending business rates relief and cutting the cost of licensing so more establishments could offer al fresco dining.

Ms Simons said any potential downsides to al fresco dining in the four areas it has currently been rolled out in – Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch and now Westminster – had already been addressed.

Blocking traffic from passing through streets and allowing consumers to dine outdoors could raise new challenges with both vehicle congestion and criminal activity, especially the capital's problems with phone-snatching.

Ms Simmons said al fresco dining was "hugely popular" among businesses and customers.

Mark Williams, deputy chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, told the LDRS: "I'm very enthusiastic and we're really grateful that this road was chosen as one of the trials.

"For the core West End, which is where I represent, we would like to see outside dining expanded and encouraged in all appropriate areas where it's possible."