Skip to main content

Business support and guidance

Read about the latest guidance for Westminster businesses.

Temporary al fresco schemes: road closures, barriers and consultations

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.

Document
Al fresco dining - road closures 2021

    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]

    Published: 7 April 2021

    Last updated: 7 July 2022