Commercial Awnings & The Summer Streets Fund: Your Guide to Grant-Funded Al-Fresco Dining in London

London’s hospitality scene is alive with activity. For many businesses, the warmer months offer a clear chance to serve more customers. Al-fresco dining has become a huge part of enjoying London’s streets.
The Mayor of London’s new Summer Streets Fund provides a clear opportunity. This grant, with a total of £300,000 in funding, was made available to local authorities to create welcoming dining areas on their pavements. The goal is simple: to bring a café culture to London’s neighbourhoods and boost the local economy.
So, how do you make a competitive application? The answer might be simpler than you think.

How to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Profit Centre

Commercial awnings are a powerful tool for creating a functional, attractive, and profitable outdoor space. They are an asset in a grant application, demonstrating a smart, long-term investment.
A high-quality awning does three key things that directly align with the fund’s objectives:

• It makes a space usable, rain or shine. London weather is famously unpredictable. A high-quality awning provides crucial shelter, allowing you to use your outdoor seating area consistently, regardless of a sudden downpour or intense sun. This is a critical point to make in your application, as it shows you are creating a reliable, all-weather asset.
• It instantly elevates your kerb appeal. A well-designed awning signals to passers-by that you’re open, inviting, and have a comfortable space ready for them. It helps your business stand out on a crowded high street, drawing in foot traffic and enhancing your brand.
• It maximises your profitability. By creating a comfortable outdoor dining area, you’re effectively adding more usable square footage to your premises. This means you can seat more customers and increase your revenue, which is a powerful argument for a grant provider looking for a return on their investment. Studies indicate that businesses can see an income increase of up to 30% by incorporating outdoor seating.

A Strategic Investment for Your Business

When planning your outdoor space, you might consider various options, including commercial parasols. While parasols can offer basic sunshade, they are often a less robust, temporary solution. The difference comes down to what your business needs to show in a competitive grant application. The Summer Streets Fund is designed to support lasting, impactful improvements to the urban landscape. A high-quality commercial awnings installation is a clear, strategic choice.

Commercial awnings, as a permanent and durable fixture, are a perfect fit for this goal. Unlike a parasol that can be easily moved or damaged by wind, high-quality commercial awnings are engineered to withstand the elements, providing a reliable, all-weather asset that shows you’re making a serious investment in your business’s future.
Invest in a commercial awnings solution that is a perfect fit for a grant application and your business. Get a free, no-commitment quote today!

Navigating the London Pavement Licence

Before you can set up any outdoor seating, you’ll need a Pavement Licence from your local council. This is a key step that shows you are a responsible business and have a clear, lawful plan. The licence is a permit that allows you to place tables, chairs, and other temporary furniture on the public highway adjacent to your premises.

The government introduced the Business and Planning Act 2020 to streamline this process, making it easier for businesses to secure a licence. This has now been made a permanent regime through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. While the process is now more straightforward, you still need to be prepared. Your application will typically require a site plan showing the proposed layout, proof of public liability insurance, and a clear understanding of the standard conditions set by your local borough.

Commercial awnings can support your pavement licence application. By providing a fixed, professional structure for your outdoor area, you show your dedication to a well-managed and safe public space, which can strengthen your case with the council.

The Secret to a Winning Grant Application

While the current Summer Streets Fund has been allocated, the Mayor of London’s commitment to al-fresco dining signals that more funding opportunities will become available. To get ahead, you should start preparing now. A winning application tells a clear story of impact and return on investment.

Grant applications are about showing how your project will benefit the community and align with the fund’s goals. When you’re applying for a grant to install commercial awnings, you’re making a case that this investment will:

• Boost the local economy by increasing footfall and attracting new customers.
• Create a more vibrant and usable streetscape, transforming a previously empty space into a bustling hub of activity.
• Contribute to London’s goal of becoming a 24-hour city by extending opening hours and encouraging late-night dining.

The most persuasive applications include tangible, measurable outcomes. Research suggests that an investment in outdoor dining can significantly boost a business’s revenue and capacity. Make sure to include this kind of data in your application and explain how your awning will increase capacity and, in turn, your revenue.

Unlike temporary solutions, a high-quality commercial awning is a permanent improvement. It provides lasting value, year after year. Frame your grant application as a smart investment that will continue to generate returns and benefit your community long after the grant money is spent. Investing in commercial awnings is a clear way to demonstrate this.

When you prepare your grant application, you need to think like the Mayor’s office. They want to see how their funds will create tangible, lasting benefits for London’s communities. Focus on a simple, compelling story: your investment in an awning will allow you to create a beautiful, functional outdoor dining area that will serve more customers, generate more revenue, and contribute to the vibrant, street-level culture the city wants to build.

At Indigo Shading, we’ve helped countless London businesses enhance their premises. Get in touch with us now for a free, no-commitment quote and let’s discuss how we can help you make a winning application and get your business ready for the summer season.