Business support and guidance

To support the safe re-opening of hospitality businesses, we introduced a range of measures to enable al fresco service.  

Measures to support hospitality businesses include barriers in parking spaces to extend pavements as well as some timed road closures.

Road closures will be in place until 30 September 2021 at the following times: 

• Monday to Friday - 5pm to 11pm 
• Saturday - midday to 11pm 
• Sunday and Bank Holidays - midday to 10.30pm 

The details of which roads are closed and where parking is suspended can be viewed below.

Consultation on permanent al fresco schemes

All consultations regarding the continuation of al fresco schemes have now closed.

Local support has been secured to continue al fresco dining schemes and timings for road closures beyond 30 September. You can view a breakdown of results for each consultation below.

If you are a hospitality business providing al fresco dining in the below areas you must submit a new application which will be valid for six months from 1 October 2021. This is in line with our existing table and chairs licences. 

Applications will take up to 14 days to process and will cost £100 per application. 
 

Apply for a pavement licence 
 

Results of our consultations

Pimlico

This consultation has now closed. Two questions were asked regarding the Enhancement scheme to improve the area.

The results show that:

• 83% support the continuation of al fresco dining on Warwick Way, Denbigh Street and Churton Street until a new scheme is ready to implement
• 79% of YES responses were from local residents and businesses
• 83% of residents who responded told us they supported continued alfresco

You can view the full breakdown of results below:

We asked:

• Do you agree that the current alfresco dining scheme should stay on Warwick Way, Denbigh Street and Churton Street until the new scheme is ready to implement?

	%	Number
Yes	83%	399
A local business	4%	21
A local resident	75%	362
Other	3%	16
No	17%	84
A local business	1%	5
A local resident	16%	78
Other	0%	1
Grand Total	100%	483

We also asked:

• Do you support the council developing a town centre vision for Pimlico, including a permanent scheme to support alfresco? This would be subject to detailed formal consultation before it is implemented.

	%	Number
Yes	84.27%	407
A local business	4.55%	22
A local resident	76.40%	369
Other	3.31%	16
No	15.73%	76
A local business	0.83%	4
A local resident	14.70%	71
Other	0.21%	1
Grand Total	100.00%	483

Eccleston Street

The consultation has now closed. Two questions were asked regarding the Enhancement scheme to improve the area.

The results show that:

• 96% support the continuation of al fresco dining on Eccelston Street until a new scheme is ready to implement
• 80% of YES responses were from local residents and businesses
• 92% of local residents who responded told us they supported continued alfresco

You can view the full breakdown of results below:

We asked:

• Do you agree that the current alfresco dining scheme should stay on Eccleston Street until the new scheme is ready to implement?

	%	Number
Yes	96%	288
A local business	50%	150
A local resident	30%	90
Other	16%	48
No	4%	11
A local business	1%	2
A local resident	2%	7
Other	1%	2
Grand Total	100%	299

We also asked:

• Do you support the council developing a permanent scheme? This would be subject to detailed formal consultation before it is implemented.

	%	Number
Yes	96%	288
A local business	49%	148
A local resident	31%	92
Other	16%	48
No	4%	11
A local business	1%	4
A local resident	2%	5
Other	1%	2
Grand Total	100%	299

Elizabeth Street

The consultation has now closed. Two questions were asked about the Enhancement scheme improve the area.

The results show that:

• 93% support the continuation of al fresco dining on Elizabeth Street until a new scheme is ready to implement
• 77% of YES responses were from local residents and businesses
• 87% of local residents who responded told us they supported continued alfresco

You can view the full breakdown of results below:

We asked:

• Do you agree that the current alfresco dining scheme should stay on Elizabeth Street until the new scheme is ready to implement? 6 parking bays will be reinstated, 2 parking bays opposite Baker and Spice and 4 parking bays outside Jo Loves-Tomtom Coffee. We will also be reviewing the outdoor dining areas according to responses we receive during this consultation.

	%	Number
Yes	93%	289
A local business	39%	123
A local resident	38%	117
Other	16%	49
No	7%	23
A local business	1%	3
A local resident	6%	18
Other	1%	2
Grand Total	100%	312

We also asked:

• Do you support the council developing a permanent scheme? This would be subject to detailed formal consultation before it is implemented.

	%	Number
Yes	94%	293
A local business	40%	125
A local resident	38%	119
Other	16%	49
No	6%	19
A local business	0%	1
A local resident	5%	16
Other	1%	2
Grand Total	100%	312

North Audley Street

This consultation has now closed. One question was asked regarding the Enhancement scheme to improve the area.

The results show that:

• 94% support the continuation of al fresco dining on North Audley Street
• 74% of YES responses were from local residents and businesses
• 85% of local residents who responded told us they supported continued alfresco 

You can view the full breakdown of results below:

We asked:

• Do you support the current temporarily extended pavement areas on North Audley Street being used for alfresco dining beyond 30 September?

	%	Number
Yes	94%	388
A local business	49%	203
A local resident	25%	102
Other	20%	83
No	6%	23
A local business	0%	2
A local resident	4%	18
Other	1%	3
Grand Total	100%	411

St John’s Wood High Street

This consultation has now closed. Two questions were asked regarding the Enhancement scheme to improve the High Street.

The results show that:

• 84% support the continuation of al fresco dining on St John’s Wood High Street
• 79% of YES responses were from local residents

You can view a breakdown of results below:

We asked:

• Do you agree that the current alfresco dining scheme, including the current one-way system, should stay on the High Street until the new scheme is ready to be implemented?

	%	Number
Yes	84.28%	799
A local business	1.27%	12
A local resident	79.64%	755
Other	3.38%	32
No	15.72%	149
A local business	1.16%	11
A local resident	12.76%	121
Other	1.79%	17
Grand Total	100.00%	948

We also asked:

• Do you agree that this permanent enhancement scheme should be developed? There will be a detailed formal consultation on these proposals in the future.

	%	Number
Yes	86.50%	820
A local business	1.58%	15
A local resident	81.54%	773
Other	3.38%	32
No	13.50%	128
A local business	0.84%	8
A local resident	10.86%	103
Other	1.79%	17
Grand Total	100.00%	948

Covent Garden

Two consultations have taken place to understand views on proposals for Covent Garden.

The first was to find out if you would like al fresco dining to continue on Henrietta Street, King Street, Maiden Lane and parts of Southampton Street.

The results show that:

• 81% support the continuation of al fresco dining on Henrietta Street, King Street, Maiden Lane and parts of Southampton Street.

• 78% of residents who responded told us they supported continued alfresco

These proposals are contingent on a second consultation, the Neighbourhood Traffic Management Scheme (NTM), which proposed timed closures in the coming 18 months for this area. This consultation has now closed and the results show there is local support for the proposed scheme.

You can view a breakdown of results of the alfresco consultation below:

We asked:

• Do you support the continuing presence of alfresco hospitality on King Street, Henrietta Street, Maiden Lane, and Southampton Street?

	%	Number
Yes	81.10%	206
A local business	16.54%	42
A local resident	42.13%	107
Other	22.44%	57
No	18.90%	48
A local business	3.94%	10
A local resident	12.20%	31
Other	2.76%	7
Grand Total	100.00%	254

With local support now secured, proposals to move forward with this scheme, will be dependent on the results of the NTM scheme. The results of the NTM scheme will be formally announced later this year, in coordination with Camden Council.

Hospitality businesses can still re-apply for a new pavement licence valid from 1 October, but the implementation of the NTM scheme is subject to formal decision by both Westminster and Camden councils. 

Other schemes – in design phase

Soho

We are currently working with Soho’s communities to design a vision for Soho, which will take into account movement and transport, resident amenity, business needs, the environment, and accessibility to design a holistic plan for the area. We are engaging with residents, businesses, and visitors throughout the design phase, including holding community workshops, pop up events and online surveys. Find out more on the Vision for Soho website.

Read the latest statement and consultation report.

Contact: [email protected]