Atlantic Road in Brixton was transformed into a vibrant hub of music, food, and trade on Saturday, as part of the Mayor of London’s Summer Streets initiative. Backed by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s
funding, the area became the latest al fresco dining hotspot in the capital.
London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, joined Lambeth Council representatives to meet local traders, hospitality businesses, and performers. Visitors enjoyed an afternoon and evening of entertainment during the car-free event, part of Lambeth Council’s Big Shift Car Free Day programme, co-delivered with Brixton BID. Extended evening activities were made possible through the Mayor’s support.
This celebration is one of four new schemes funded through the Mayor’s £300,000 Summer Streets Fund, aimed at expanding outdoor dining, extending business hours, and boosting London’s nightlife—ahead of the Mayor receiving new licensing powers from the Government.
The Atlantic Road Car Free Day was inspired by Brixton BID’s partnership with Harlem’s 125th Street Business Improvement District in New York. Highlights included live performances from the Handson Family Collective, Just Vibes, and a Spanish Harlem DJ line-up, alongside dance shows from Wonderful Entertainment. Local traders such as Roundtable Books, Brixton Streetwear, and the Black Culture Market brought unique offerings to the street.
More than 90 businesses in Brixton benefit from the scheme, with car-free Saturdays on Atlantic Road running every second Saturday from June to December, and extended evening activities from July to September. Additional Summer Streets support is enhancing outdoor dining and market activity on Brixton Station Road during select weekends.
Beyond Brixton, the Mayor’s Summer Streets Fund is also backing similar projects in Hackney, Waltham Forest, and Westminster, with expanded car-free zones and open-air dining in areas such as Leyton, Shoreditch, and St Martin’s Lane. Photo by Stuart Taylor / Brixton Town Hall, London / CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia commons.