London funds outdoor dining in Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch, West End

London will introduce new outdoor dining hotspots this summer in Brixton, Leyton, Shoreditch, and the West End, funded by the Mayor's summer streets initiative. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the plan to boost the city's nightlife, inspired by the success of outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, but notably excluding Soho from the initial rollout. The initiative aims to extend opening hours and create car-free zones. The program will provide funding to local councils, with Hackney and Lambeth receiving £100,000 each. The move follows the granting of new licensing powers to the Mayor, allowing him to support extended hours and outdoor seating.