South London councils invited to boost hospitality

April 16, 2026

South London News On Your Doorstep Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Boroughs across South London are being invited to apply for a share of the Mayor of London's £400,000 Summer Streets fund, designed to bolster the capital's hospitality sector. The initiative aims to encourage local authorities to support bars, cafes, and restaurants in expanding outdoor dining options and extending their opening hours. This funding is intended to capitalise on anticipated increased footfall, particularly with the men's football World Cup scheduled for this summer.

Supporting Hospitality and Nightlife

The Summer Streets fund offers grants of up to £100,000 for councils to implement large-scale al fresco pedestrianisation projects. Smaller 'pocket alfresco' schemes, with grants of up to £10,000, are also available to assist individual businesses, including pubs, cafes, live music venues, and LGBTQIA+ establishments, in creating or expanding outdoor spaces. This programme follows the success of the inaugural Summer Streets fund last year, which saw streets in areas such as Lambeth transformed into open-air dining destinations, reportedly increasing footfall and supporting local traders. The fund is set to open for applications in April, with a requirement for boroughs and their partners to provide match funding.

Wider Licensing Reforms

The Summer Streets fund is part of a broader strategy by the Mayor of London to support the city's hospitality and nightlife industries, which have encountered considerable challenges in recent years. The Mayor is currently consulting on proposals to strengthen licensing practices across London, following the government's announcement of plans to grant strategic licensing powers to the Mayor. These proposals include the development of a new London-wide Strategic Licensing Policy, intended to foster a more unified and consistent licensing framework in collaboration with boroughs and businesses. Recommendations from the capital's independent Nightlife Taskforce, focusing on protecting, supporting, and growing the city's nightlife, have also informed these efforts.

Author

South London News On Your Doorstep Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

From Town Hall decisions to resident-led reports, the South London News On Your Doorstep Desk offers comprehensive coverage of the issues that matter to your street. Our editorial staff provide critical updates on local planning, council services, and neighbourhood initiatives, ensuring our readers never miss a change to their local area.

Every report is produced under the rigorous oversight of a leadership team with decades of experience at Yahoo UK, Metro, and the Daily Mail. By bridging the gap between local grievances and council accountability, our desk upholds the highest standards of journalistic integrity to provide an accurate, human-led perspective on the stories driving South East London today.