Alfresco dining Soho revival sparks summer hope for hospitality
When it comes to summer in London, the idea of a long evening spent with friends and small plates on sun-warmed pavements has an irresistible pull. For many, the return of alfresco dining in Soho would be a lifeline.
The possibility of an Alfresco Soho revival has been floated again following reports that City Hall is encouraging boroughs to act on outdoor dining before new licensing powers come into effect. The scheme, hugely popular during the pandemic summers of 2020 and 2021, saw Soho’s streets closed to traffic and transformed into lively, open-air dining corridors. Now, as spring settles in and evenings stretch longer, there’s growing support for making that atmosphere a more regular feature.
The keyphrase alfresco dining Soho isn’t just about a lifestyle upgrade, it’s tied to real economic and cultural concerns. During the lockdowns, it helped rescue businesses teetering on the edge. “A well-managed return of Soho’s Alfresco summer could bring clear benefits to the entire West End community,” said Coral Anderson, managing director of Swift Bars.
“It would offer a much-needed boost in revenue and footfall for hospitality businesses, many of which are currently facing declining consumer confidence, rising business rates, and increased National Insurance contributions.”
Swift Bars was one of many local venues that benefitted from the Soho Summer Street Festival, a scheme launched to re-energise the area after long months of shutdown. With outdoor seating spilling onto traffic-free roads, footfall returned and so did the buzz. As hospitality continues to face pressure from rising costs, initiatives like these are back on the table and being taken seriously.
Anna Watkins, managing director at Dean Street’s popular Barrafina, added: “We’ve seen footfall and visitor numbers decline in Soho, which along with rising costs has really hit us bars and restaurants hard. We would welcome the return of alfresco dining, all the more so with this sunnier weather, to bring some much-needed cheer, much needed guests and to celebrate what makes Soho such a wonderful, vibrant place, one of the beating hearts of London.”
While Westminster City Council has not confirmed any concrete plans, a letter reportedly written by two of the Mayor’s deputies urges London boroughs to “support popular and exciting ideas like alfresco dining and late-night openings.” The timing is crucial. From this summer, the Mayor is expected to gain new powers to override local licensing decisions. Until then, councils still hold sway.
One pressure point remains the lack of outdoor space in Soho, which campaigners such as the Soho Business Alliance argue could be relieved by expanding pavement dining zones. With Oxford Street undergoing proposals for partial pedestrianisation, many have urged that Soho be included in the vision, citing not only hospitality’s needs but also traffic reduction and improved air quality.
The idea is being welcomed not just as an economic measure, but as part of London’s identity. It’s a subtle reminder of the city’s ability to adapt and revive itself through smart urban solutions. Alfresco dining Soho-style may have started as a crisis response, but it’s grown into something that captures the spirit of central London, community, atmosphere, and resilience.
For businesses facing the twin challenges of higher operating costs and fluctuating footfall, this summer’s decision could be pivotal. A properly implemented return to street dining might just be the morale boost the West End needs.
For now, there are no formal plans but if the letter from City Hall is anything to go by, alfresco may well be on the menu again soon.
For more updates on alfresco dining Soho and the future of London’s hospitality scene, visit EyeOnLondon Westminster. We’d love to hear your views in the comments.
[Image Credit: BBC]
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