City bosses have stepped up their campaign to attract more pubs, restaurants, markets and even music venues to open in the Square Mile .
The City’s governing Corporation has launched a new interactive map that will make it easier to identify locations “suitable for opening hospitality venues, markets, premises with extended licensing hours, and holding events.”
The initiative forms part of the Destination City initiative, a plan to breathe life back to the Square Mile in the post-pandemic era when a substantial number of employees still work from home, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.
“The Square Mile has experiences to cater for everyone, attracting people to spend time in the City and supporting our retail and leisure offers.”
It also continues to transformation of the City from its traditional “nine to five” status as a business and finance focussed area of central London largely deserted in the evenings and at the weekend to a seven days a week late night destination full of visitors and tourists deep into the evening.
It also come at a time when some operators in the West End are complaining about how hard it has become to obtain a licence from Westminster council.
The map is available to view on the City Corporation’s Interactive Maps landing page – Interactive maps - City of London - and will be updated regularly as new data becomes available.
City of London Corporation policy chairman, Chris Hayward, said: “I am confident that this new interactive map will be an important resource for businesses and residents alike.”
“The Square Mile has experiences to cater for everyone, attracting people to spend time in the City and supporting our retail and leisure offers .
Chairman of the Corporation’s Licensing Committee, James Tumbridge said: “At the heart of this project is our strong commitment to encouraging good responsible business and investment in the City, as part of our wider ambitions for economic growth.
“The Square Mile is open for business and we are building on its success to make it a thriving destination with increased footfall and spend. We are hoping to see ever more diversity in the offer, and to keep people wanting to invest in the City.”
The Square Mile already hosts almost 1,000 licensed premises - compared with nearly 4,000 in Westminster - with 16 of them having 24-hour licenses, and more than 300 serving alcohol after midnight. More than 140 pubs, cafés, bars, and restaurants provide al fresco seating.
