London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE and Lambeth Council representatives, met traders, hospitality businesses and performers as Londoners and visitors enjoyed an afternoon and evening of entertainment at the latest car free day in Brixton. The event is part of the Lambeth Council funded Big Shift Car Free Day programme, co-delivered in partnership with Brixton BID. Activity is extended into the evening thanks to funding from the Mayor of London.
The celebration was one of four new schemes that the Mayor is funding across the capital through his £300,000 Summer Streets Fund. The funding is part of Sadiq’s commitment to increase outdoor dining and extend opening hours to offer more choice to Londoners and help support businesses. This is ahead of the Mayor being granted new licensing powers from the Government to help boost the capital’s nightlife.
The latest Atlantic Road Car Free Day has been inspired by Brixton BID’s partnership with Harlem 125th Street in the New York City Business Improvement District (BID). Alongside outside dining, there were DJs and live music from Cyndi Anafo and Chris Ellesson of the Handson Family Collective and Just Vibes, as well as a Spanish Harlem DJ set by Oscar Bello, Daniel Sanchez, Adrian Villegas, Odette Aguirre and Hinray Lopez. The post 6pm activity is delivered as part of Lambeth’s upcoming Night Time Strategy.
There were also performances by local dance group, Wonderful Entertainment, and pop-up stalls by independent traders Roundtable Books, Brixton Streetwear and the Black Culture Market, which brings together a range of independent Black-owned traders.
More than 90 businesses are benefitting from the scheme in Brixton with Atlantic Road Car Free Day taking place every second Saturday from June to December, and extended evening activity thanks to Summer Streets Funding from July to September. The Summer Streets Funding is also supporting an extended outdoor dining and market zone on Brixton Station Road during selected Saturdays in August and September, also delivered in partnership between Lambeth Council and Brixton BID.
Other sites being supported by the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund include schemes across Hackney, Waltham Forest and Westminster. In Leyton, Francis Road is extending car free hours, with outdoor dining in Leyton Midland Road. In Shoreditch, there are more car free days and outdoor dining on Rivington Road and Redchurch Street. Later this month, bars and restaurants on St Martin’s Lane in the heart of the West End will be able to provide open air dining and drinking.
Councillor Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion at Lambeth Council, said: “Our extended Car-Free Day in Brixton is a powerful example of how we can drive night-time economic growth while celebrating the cultural diversity and community spirit that make Brixton so unique, especially in the summer, when people particularly enjoy socialising outdoors. By creating more vibrant, welcoming spaces for outdoor dining, live entertainment, and independent trade, we’re helping local businesses thrive after dark and building a more inclusive, resilient local economy for everyone. We are looking forward to hopefully creating similar opportunities across the borough when we launch our night-time strategy later this year.”
Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, said: “Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road have come alive with a vibrant mix of food, culture, music and entertainment to light up Brixton. It’s a fantastic example of what we wanted to achieve from the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund, bringing something fresh and fun for Londoners and visitors to enjoy during the summer months. We are delighted to boost local businesses and London’s nightlife, and it’s just the start of our what’s to come, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Gianluca Rizzo, Brixton BID Managing Director: “We are absolutely thrilled that Brixton has been chosen for the Summer Streets programme. This additional investment is a good step forward in our mission to continue celebrating our district. With this funding, we can support our night-time economy and the hospitality sector, showcase our diverse culture, and ensure Brixton continues to be a distinctive destination after dark.”
