Sadiq Khan campaign to introduce ‘al fresco’ dining

The latest food news from across London.

Transcript

00:00Londoners may soon see more outdoor tables lining the streets as Mayor Sadiq Khan unveils

00:07plans to expand alfresco dining across the capital.

00:12The move builds on temporary measures introduced during the pandemic which allowed restaurants

00:17cafes to serve more customers outside.

00:21Now Khan wants to make these changes permanent.

00:25The initiative includes streamlining licensing processes, increasing funding to boroughs

00:31to improve pavement space and encouraging the pedestrianisation of key areas.

00:37The goal?

00:38To support London's hospitality sector, boost local economies and create vibrant, more open

00:45public spaces.

00:47Khan says outdoor dining is part of a broader vision to make London greener, more sociable

00:52and less car dependent.

00:55Now while many welcome the changes, some residents have raised concerns about noise, accessibility

01:01and crowding.

01:04Still now with the warm weather well and truly here, the city is betting on the appeal of

01:09open air meals, not just as a seasonal trend but as a lasting feature of London life.

01:17Now London restaurants have been winning awards this year at the Good Food Awards including

01:21most beautiful restaurant.

01:23Now those restaurants may get the chance to expand onto the London streets.

01:28The winner of the most beautiful restaurant is the Dover!

01:36I was lucky enough to speak to the winners celebrating the Dover's incredible achievement of most beautiful

01:53restaurant in the UK this year.

01:57First of all I'm speechless because to win an award in the UK is a big prize.

02:04So as you can see from my voice I'm still emotional and this is a big win for the team that helped

02:10us to make Dover happen.

02:12I was happy today so I'm very emotional.

02:14It's so important.

02:15I think part of the Dover's success is all down to the design.

02:20It's all about the setting in which people can enjoy their food and enjoy the time and

02:24the whole experience comes from walking into a beautiful restaurant and immediately feeling

02:29at ease and being somewhere that you want to spend time on.

02:32And the design of the Dover is totally, totally part of the success of where we are today.

02:39Borough authorities were last month urged by two of Sir Sadiq's deputy mayors to support

02:44al fresco dining and late night openings in their areas.

02:48Sir Sadiq Khan said London is the greatest city in the world and as summer approaches

02:52our city is set to welcome millions of tourists.