Al fresco dining is heading your way
Remember the hazy days of last summer, when the first lockdown was over and we all descended onto the streets of central London after being holed up in our too-small-yet-somehow-ridiculo usly-expensive flats to drink, laugh, and generally have a good time? If you were fortunate enough to have fond memories of those days (hard to believe they were less than a year ago) then we have some amazing news for you – Westminster Council have given the scheme the green light once again!
Starting even earlier this year – next Monday, in fact – the doors and of bars and restaurants in Soho will be thrown open again, 100% ready to be supplying us with the effortless plein-air Mediterranean vibes that we have all been starved of for so long (*weep*). Throw away that TUI brochure, step away from Expedia, and stop googling ‘10-night all-inclusive in Dubrovnik’ – the southern European city break you’ve been craving is only a few stops on the Central line.
This time it’s bigger and better than ever before, with neighbouring districts Covent Garden, China Town, Marylebone, and even Oxford Circus, joining the festivities. Daytime and evening road closures will affect about 60 roads overall, with different roads being closed at different times. So much for those decade-old plans to pedestrianize Oxford Street – turns out all you need is to end lockdown restrictions and give restaurants a few permits, and the whole of central London will be transformed into a car-free, al fresco dining paradise.
The trend towards open air dining is not restricted to just London - all over the country, businesses are taking to beer gardens, rooftops, and even the streets, to bring us what we want - a slice of pizza and a cool pint surrounding by our mates. We're here for it.
This is fantastic news for us all. Not only do we get to enjoy a cool glass of frizzante in the sun (like I’ve been dreaming about since January), but businesses and the thousands of chefs, waiters, and bartenders employed by them are going to get a massive boost… mostly from all my many glasses of frizzante…
Check out our list of the top outdoor venues in London if you need some inspo.
Words by: Rebecca Clayton