Following the recent announcement that Bloomsbury’s iconic pedestrianised street, Sicilian Avenue, is to provide high quality eating, shopping, and socialising venues to the area’s 70,000 daily visitors, the new findings highlight the crucial role that coffee shops and eateries play in the work lives of central London’s business community.

While 85% of London’s entrepreneurs and workers surveyed work in an office, the study found that more than one in ten (11%) of business owners work from restaurants and cafes when in central London for business. In addition, almost a fifth (19%) of those working for small businesses with fewer than ten employees choose central London-based cafes/restaurants to work in – a significantly higher proportion than the average London worker (8%).

As corporate return-to-office mandates continue to bring workers back to their desks and smaller businesses use the 1,400 shared coworking spaces that now exist to serve hybrid workforces coming into the city, the new findings show that London’s startups and entrepreneurs in particular are seeking the flexibility of alternative venues when working in central London.

Restaurants and cafes are crucial venues for business meetings, with business owners especially inclined to choose to meet clients, partners or suppliers over coffee or a bite to eat than other workers in central London (58% vs 41%).

When it comes to options for lunch and dinner, restaurants and cafes beat other options such as meal deals and fast food delivery for central London’s entrepreneurs. Over half (53%) of business owners say they’re more likely to choose to eat in a restaurant or cafe local to their workplace, while the same proportion of workers choose to grab a meal deal for lunch. Business owners are also significantly more likely than workers to travel to restaurants and cafes in different parts of central London for work and meetings (45% vs 35%).

Overall, six in 10 entrepreneurs and workers surveyed – including 66% of the C-suite – in central London say they choose to eat in restaurants and cafes because they offer better food and drink options than other options, while almost the same proportion (58%) say they choose local venues for the opportunity to socialise with colleagues. Millennial workers (55%) and business owners (51%) are especially likely to appreciate the opportunity to get out of the office that local restaurants and cafes offer.

Workers and business owners want higher quality dining experiences and be rewarded for their custom

In the UK, studies have shown that people are increasingly focused on their wellbeing and achieving an equitable work-life balance than simply earning. This means that not only are London’s business people searching for flexibility in where and when they work, but they also want better customer experiences when they’re working.

Not only do Central London’s business owners and workers rely on restaurants and cafes for work, networking, socialising and sustenance, they are also increasingly looking for higher quality dining experiences. In fact, over half (58%) say they’re now more likely to choose higher quality food and beverage venues than they were in 2019.

While nearly three quarters (70%) of business owners and workers surveyed say that quality of service is important to them when looking for a high quality dining experience, 64% value quality of ingredients and 43% say that dining in a prime location is important to them. VIP loyalty schemes are more highly valued by business owners than workers (20% vs 16%), as well as Gen Zs (20%) and Millennials (19%).

Sustainability and environmental considerations are becoming increasingly important to consumers and businesses looking for higher quality dining and socialising experiences. Roughly a third of business owners (33%) as well as business people from Greater London (34%) say they look for sustainable and environmentally friendly surroundings and ingredients as a priority.

Pedestrianisation seen as a key benefit of higher quality dining experiences

Pedestrianisation is a key focus in many areas of London – including the City of London – that want to boost footfall and drive revenue for local businesses. According to data from the Department for Transport, 45% of British citizens support the ongoing trend towards Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, placing breathable, cleaner cities high on the agenda for London’s councils.

Councillor Adam Harrison, Councillor for Bloomsbury ward and Cabinet member for planning and a sustainable Camden, says: “Since 1910, Sicilian Avenue has shown London how pedestrian-friendly areas can improve both the lives of residents and those who work and travel through them. This approach also supports our transport strategy, which is investing in more environmentally friendly, healthier forms of travel and creating more welcoming streets and neighbourhoods.”

For central London’s business community, pedestrianisation is seen as a key component of high quality dining experiences, with nearly three-quarters (71%) saying they are more likely to choose to eat and drink in venues in pedestrianised settings than ones with traffic – rising to 74% of Gen Z and Millennials. Younger people are especially inclined to favour pedestrianised settings, with Gen Z workers and business owners most likely to say that pedestrianised locations offer better eating and drinking options (35%).

Over half of business owners and workers (59%) said they would choose pedestrianised settings because they’re more pleasant and away from traffic, as well as being more calm and serene (56%).

Tanya Braun, Director of Policy and Communications, Living Streets, states: "These findings, combined with our own research, show that high streets need to focus more than ever before on the quality of the experience people have when they visit. Businesses thrive when there is pedestrianisation, because people slow down, they feel more comfortable being in that area, and are therefore more likely to spend time and money there. Our latest Pedestrian Pound report found that pedestrianisation is not only really good for business, but creating more of these walkable realms is a key step to also improving the health of our nation. We've found that when people choose not to walk or travel actively, it's because of fear associated with the danger of motor vehicles. Places like Sicilian Avenue offer a safe haven; a really nice environment where you can feel safe and calm."

Alex Melligan, Director, Portfolio & Asset Management, Tristan Capital Partners, comments: “The British working week looks very different today from how it did just 10 years ago. New technology, a pandemic, and evolving notions of the work-life balance mean that people are increasingly opting for roles in companies that offer flexibility around time and location, over rigid, set definitions of what constitutes a working day – and our findings show that this is especially true of London’s dynamic startup scene. Whereas they might have once worked from the office or a co-working spot all day, these businesses are increasingly conducting operations from the comfort of their favourite restaurant, cafe, or bar.”

He continues: “Entrepreneurs and micro-business owners are financially savvy and seek intimate, creative places that respect individual space but also encourage connections – which is why they are most likely to choose restaurants and cafes to conduct their business. Bloomsbury’s Sicilian Avenue, with its focus on high quality food and beverage outlets, is set to ride the wave of this new way of working as its first venues open to serve central London’s hungry entrepreneurs and workers.”

Walkable oasis: Sicilian Avenue reopens in 2025

In February 2025, Tristan Capital Partners announced that Sicilian Avenue is due to open to the public in summer 2025. An iconic, Grade II listed pedestrianised street located between Tottenham Court Road Station and the UK’s number one attraction, The British Museum, Sicilian Avenue is just 90 seconds from Holborn station. The street has undergone a complete restoration to become the social heart of the Bloomsbury Quarter (formerly known as the Holborn Links Estate) reforming the historical, pedestrian avenue into the area’s most sought-after shopping and dining destination. The research found that 95% of those surveyed in London’s business community said they would visit Sicilian Avenue for dining and/or socialising.

Councillor Sabrina Francis, Councillor for Bloomsbury ward and Cabinet member for Jobs, Young People and Culture says: “Sicilian Avenue has long been a popular location for shopping and leisure time for both local residents and those visiting Camden, and I’m really pleased to see that this iconic street will soon be open again for all to enjoy.”

Alexander Jan, Chair of the Central District Alliance Business Improvement District, continues: “The opening of the Elizabeth line means that Bloomsbury and Holborn are more accessible than ever before, and the revitalisation of Sicilian Avenue is excellent news. This remarkable part of the Bloomsbury/Holborn area has always been much loved by residents, workers and students, and will now provide a pleasant experience for tourists, particularly the dining experience Tristan Capital Partners is curating – which is great for business. This part of our BID area is seeing new investment and a revival of its economic fortunes post Covid. We look forward to welcoming Sicilian Avenue’s superbly located Grade II listed buildings back into public use.”

Sicilian Avenue’s location places it at the centre of a livewire network of creative and intellectual resources. Its proximity to institutions like the British Museum, along with world-leading universities and research centres, provides a rich source of inspiration and collaboration opportunities. In 2025, that mix is complemented by the area’s thriving co-working scene, comprising workspaces where professionals from every discipline drop in to get stuff done. The curators of Bloomsbury and the coders of Holborn will now be able to congregate in the Avenue’s “third space” in diverse, dynamic exchange.

Simon Oldfield, local resident, local business owner and Chair of the Friends of Bloomsbury, comments: "Sicilian Avenue is a much-loved historic avenue in Bloomsbury. Having lived in the area for 25 years, and based my business here, it is wonderful to see Sicilian Avenue being restored into a high-quality dining destination at the heart of our neighbourhood. Also, as Chair of the Friends of Bloomsbury, a not-for-profit community organisation dedicated to the enhancement and maintenance of Bloomsbury Square that relies entirely on donations, we are pleased that Tristan Capital Partners is supporting our efforts, which we hope will continue to grow over time as Sicilian Avenue comes to life for all to enjoy."

Ryan Frise, General Manager of L’oscar London, adds: “Bloomsbury and Holborn have transformed in recent years, evolving into one of London’s most vibrant and culturally rich neighbourhoods. Since L’oscar London’s opening in 2018, we have witnessed a real elevation of the area; now further enhanced by the return of Sicilian Avenue. The increased footfall and renewed sense of destination is incredibly exciting, not only for the community, but also for our hotel and restaurant. We look forward to welcoming new guests to this prospering area of London and continuing to deliver the level of service that defines L’oscar.”

Simon Elmer, Steward of The Bedford Estates, concludes: "Sicilian Avenue serves as a classical gateway to Bloomsbury, embodying the unique blend of heritage and modernity that makes this neighbourhood so special. Walking through Sicilian Avenue, one can't help but feel a sense of connection to the past and an excitement for the future of this dynamic area."

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