Mayor of London to overrule local council over alfresco dining in Soho next summer

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, plans to override opposition to alfresco dining in Soho next year after the local council failed to apply to a scheme for seasonal pedestrianisation that is being introduced across the capital this summer.

- Helena Horton

Next year, restaurants in London’s entertainment district will be allowed to put chairs outside in the warmer months despite a longstanding local row on the issue.

Khan will announce today that 13 London boroughs will receive a share of nearly £500,000 to bring outdoor dining, events and extended opening hours to their streets throughout the summer and into autumn.

However, this year pedestrianisation has been resisted in Soho despite the area having had a very popular alfresco dining scheme during the Covid-19 pandemic. Westminster council has since opposed allowing an expansion of outdoor dining in summer. Sources close to Khan said that new powers would allow him to overrule the council for the summer of next year.

When people were able to socialise outdoors during the pandemic, Soho resembled continental Europe as temporary permits and road closures allowed venues to spill out into the streets.

However, the Soho Society, a residents’ group, complained about the noise caused by people drinking and dining outside, and the council wound up the scheme.

Khan said his new powers from the government would allow him to overrule council decisions and open up central London to outdoor dining in the summer.