Westminster City Council has unveiled plans to support the hospitality sector when it begins to reopen at the beginning of July.
The plans include some timed road closures and a widening of pavements to create space for cafes and restaurants to put tables and chairs outside.
Areas where this will be allowed include Covent Garden, Soho, Fitzrovia and Marylebone.
A fast-track process will also be put in place to assess applications from businesses for tables and chairs.
Those businesses with outside tables and chairs can operate without applying for a license, as long as waiter service is provided.
However, existing services will likely be reviewed to ensure safe queueing and social distancing.
Pubs and bars will also need to ensure they have a license for tables and chairs to host patrons outside.
The council is also asking businesses to consolidate deliveries and freight as it looks to keep noise and congestion to a minimum, as well as improve air quality.
It has identified several delivery hubs where safe loading and unloading can take place. The council said this was needed to provide pavement widening and ensure social distancing.
“With the current social distancing measures in place, it’s going to be extremely difficult for many in the hospitality industry to be able to safely reopen unless they can expand their tables and chairs outside,” Westminster City Council leader Rachael Robathan told EG.
“I think our resident community, which we will need to engage very closely with, understands that in order to help our hospitality sector get back up and running and off their knees, this is going to be important.”
For more, see EG’s interview this week with Westminster City Council leader Rachael Robathan – out on Friday.
To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette
