Legal experts urge councils to adopt new ‘British Summertime Licence’

More councils should follow the lead of Kensington and Chelsea by introducing policies that encourage outdoor eating and dining culture, legal experts say.

The West London borough is the first in the UK to commit to encouraging al fresco dining as an ongoing feature of its high streets. A new policy means businesses can continue to offer outdoor dining after temporary government legislation introduced during the pandemic ends this September (2022).

The council’s new policy means businesses will be offered licences to operate outdoors from March to October, in line with British Summer Time, through a “far simpler process than previously”. The flexible scheme means restaurants, cafes and pubs will be able to trade more easily on pavements, in suspended parking bays and on pedestrianised streets. Licences could also be approved for up to five years.

The move comes after consultation with residents showed that the majority were supportive of such a scheme after seeing the benefits it brought to the area under Covid measures.

Felix Faulkner, from national licensing specialists Poppleston Allen, hopes it will prompt other councils to introduce similar policies.

He said: “What is refreshing is that Kensington and Chelsea has recognised the benefit that al fresco dining brought to local restaurants, bars and cafes during the pandemic and is now working to make it permanent. Our hope is that this encourages other councils to follow suit and revive their previous pavement licence schemes to be more welcoming to hospitality businesses.

“We have seen here in Nottingham how a European-style café culture can help to revive struggling town centres and we’d love to see other councils introduce similar policies to give a boost to the high street.”