Lockdown restrictions are gradually starting to ease but the London restaurant scene is still faced with an uphill battle. Even if venues are allowed to open, the two-metre social distancing rule will make it extremely difficult for small and independent restaurants in places like Soho to survive – in fact John James, the managing director of Soho Estates, predicts that “least a third of existing restaurants would not survive another quarter”.
The solution that he and the Soho Summer Street Festival campaign have come up with – and that has been approved by Westminster City Council – is to pedestrianise 17 streets in the area between 5pm – 11pm for the summer to give bars and restaurants space to trade outside, so they can stay in business whilst keeping customers safe.