Chelsea alfresco

London’s most salubrious neighbourhood has been transformed into an oasis for safe, spacious outdoor dining experiences

Food and Drink 17 Aug 2020

Dining outside in Chelsea
Chelsea is home to acres of outdoor leisure and dining space

If only more property managers shared the vision of Cadogan – which owns and operates more than 93 acres of prime Chelsea and Kensington – in transforming open, outdoor space across the estate into alfresco dining experiences.

So while supporting the reopening of some of the capital’s most well-known restaurants and businesses, the company is ensuring customers can enjoy themselves as safely as possible. As well as a foodie takeover of Duke of York’s Square, so much easier than travelling to France or Italy for that authentically continental experience, Cadogan has provided a large number of additional outdoor spaces and covers, which means restaurants can now operate at over 75 per cent capacity.

Cadogan's visionary management of the area means Chelsea is now a prime destination for al fresco dining
Cadogan’s visionary management of the area means Chelsea is now a prime destination for alfresco dining

So a wander into Sloane Square will find you in the middle of an outside restaurant, bar and leisure oasis throughout August and September. Here, among a number of other enterprising operators, the Royal Court Theatre has gone alfresco with Court on the Square, a pop-up bar and café, and Colbert has teamed up with drink giants Pernod Ricard to offer a ‘Pastis and Petanque’ themed bar and café, serving up the French village café experience.

Cadogan also worked closely with the council to pedestrianise the existing food quarter on Pavilion Road, and supported outdoor dining licence applications. Chelsea may be blessed in having so much extra outdoor space to play with, but it’s good to see a landlord supporting occupiers and helping make the whole area mutually beneficial to both local businesses and consumers.