Westminster Council has been accused of thwarting Soho's al-fresco dining this summer after failing to apply for the Mayor of London's £500,000 funding boost for nightlife. The Conservative-led council missed the deadline, despite accusations that Nimby resident groups are controlling the borough and damaging Soho's reputation as a top entertainment district.
Mayor's funding initiative snubbed
Sir Sadiq Khan offered £500,000 to support summer nightlife through outdoor dining and extended hours, but Westminster did not apply. A source close to the Mayor told Metro: 'Opening up our streets to al-fresco dining and other events should be at the heart of supporting our brilliant hospitality venues over the summer and Autumn. Yet the attitude of too many influential people around Soho is that bringing more fun and socialising to our streets is something to be thwarted and blocked.'
Mark Fuller, owner of Sanctum Hotel in Soho, said the area is 'only declining'. He recalled that when he started in the 1980s, most licences ended at 3am. He told Metro: 'I once had one of my chair legs sticking out over my allowed area, and I got told off by the council. If independent venues aren’t allowed to thrive, then you can bet Soho will just become filled with American sweet shops and other chains like in Leicester Square.'
Council response and new licensing powers
Paul Swaddle, leader of Westminster City Council, told Metro: 'Our Conservative Administration took charge a couple of days before the deadline to apply for the funding. It seems the Mayor also thinks that the last Labour Administration were anti business. We will look at how best to take advantage of this scheme next year but in the interim look forward to welcoming readers to a thriving west end.'
From today, the Mayor of London receives landmark new licensing powers, allowing him to create a London-wide policy for the first time. This will enable him to interrogate and scrutinise decisions and be consulted on strategically important policies. Westminster City Council said: 'Westminster already hosts the largest number of licensed venues in the country. We’d be delighted to work with the Mayor to support the hospitality industry as well as our residents and the hundreds of thousands of visitors to our city. The council would welcome a meeting to discuss how the jewel in the capital’s entertainment scene could be better with investment from the Mayor’s office.'
Other boroughs benefit
Thirteen boroughs applied for the 'Summer Streets' programme. Four large al-fresco projects in Barking & Dagenham, Brent, Greenwich, and Lambeth each received grants of up to £100,000 for outdoor dining, World Cup screenings, and markets. Eleven smaller pocket schemes in Brent, Camden, Ealing, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lewisham, Newham, Sutton, and Waltham Forest received up to £10,000 each.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: 'I’m delighted that we’re working with boroughs and local businesses to bring al fresco dining, live music, events and later opening hours to streets across our capital. Today also marks a landmark moment for London’s licensing system as for the first time ever City Hall has a direct say in how licensing decisions are made across the capital. By making it easier to extend opening hours and expand what’s on offer, I’m determined to support our hospitality and nightlife, as we build a better London for everyone.'
