Hospitality welcomes outdoor freedom – As safe distancing is the key parameter for reopening to enable people to experience the joy of hospitality once again, many hospitality providers are focusing on utilising outside space.
This makes sense on many levels and possibly most importantly, from the customers’ perspective.
Earlier today the Government published – Draft guidance: pavement licences (outdoor seating proposal) – which sets out how the new system works. It encourages hospitality providers to use as much external space as possible to extend their business operating special footprint.
The proposal allows café, pub and restaurants to look at how external space can be maximised including street fronts and car parks. It also comes as the weather continues to favour outside eating and drinking, so creating new external areas for customers would seem ideal.
The new proposal has been warmly welcomed by trade bodies – Commenting on today’s announcement, UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “Businesses will need all the help they can get to return to healthy trading and protecting jobs, so simplifying the licensing process and reducing red tape will be a great help. Opening up outdoor spaces for venues could be a vital lifesaver and mean the difference between a successful reopening or business failures and job losses.”
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, was also positive saying: “Al Fresco pubs will be welcomed by publicans and customers alike. Pubs face a 30% reduction in capacity when they reopen under one metre plus social distancing guidelines, so giving them more outdoor space will be a big help.”
Reopening: Measure twice cut once
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Hospitality welcomes outdoor freedom – 25 June 2020 – Hospitality welcomes outdoor freedom