When the weather is good you’ll often see that businesses with a plethora of outside space tend to see large influxes in custom.

Customers want to be able to sit outside and make the most of the fine, sunny weather with many making this the deciding factor when choosing where to eat or drink during the summer months.

But what if your outside space is more limited? What can we do then?

Space costs a premium in busy locations, and of course it’s best to make an outstanding product before worrying too much about what to do with your outdoor areas.

But for areas where we have a small bit of this kind of space to play with, it’s important to consider a few things before we try and maximise these areas.

Provide seating and table options

It might not be possible to have a large number of seats and tables in your limited outdoor space, but something as simple as a bench offers people the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy food or drink from your establishment.

If you have more space available, picnic tables and benches are a solid, long-lasting solution, and can withstand all of the elements with ease. Standard tables and chairs can be used, but specifically designed outdoor furniture is the recommended option for your outside areas.

We have picnic furniture, lightweight aluminium furniture, teak tables and chairs, plastic options and more just for you!

Provide adequate cover

We suffer terribly from indifferent weather in the UK, so it makes sense to provide protection from the elements in the form of canopies, parasols and gazebos. It’s not just the rain that can dampen a day out for a family, providing this kind of cover means less chance of getting burnt!

Some diners and customers will want to sit in direct sunlight, so having a mixture of shaded cover and non-shaded cover is important. This might take a bit of trial and error for you to find the right mix.

We have a superb range of parasols, gazebos and canopies for your business to really utilise your outdoor space, check them out and add a sun-safe, rain-safe shaded space.

Make sure there is plenty of light

Aside from having safe shaded areas, you will need to offer lighting options if you are open into the early and later evening. When the sun begins to set, having table candles, tea-lights, lanterns and lamps is a great way to change the atmosphere.

Adding these might even create a romantic atmosphere that entices a new range of clientele, looking for a more intimate dining experience.

Update your decor accordingly

A quick refresh of your outdoor space will give it a new lease of life, and it’s likely that these areas will need some TLC after the winter months.

Whitewash walls to help bring more light into the space, add flora. Plants make an area look fresh and enticing.

It might be wise to add infrared heaters to ensure diners are comfortable when/if the temperature begins to drop once the sun has set. Although this is definitely not a necessity.

Refresh your crockery and cutlery

If you are serving your diners outside, then it might be wise to update your cutlery and crockery to more durable or safer options. Polycarbonate options are superb for this kind of usage, whilst not devaluing the experience or compromising on quality.

It may also be wise to have a refresh, with marks and scratches much more visible in bright, direct sunlight. Not a good look.

Be aware of the increase in business area

Many pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants forgot that by increasing your outdoor space, you are in effect increasing the size of your establishment. This means that your waiting staff will have to cover more tables and serve more customers in the same time-frame.

Make sure you factor this into your staffing requirements, and ensure that during busier periods tables are waited at the same rate. It’s not use having more space and more customers if you provide a poor service. You’ll likely never see these customers again if so.

Now armed with this information you’ll be able to make an informed decision on what is best for your business when it comes to your outdoor space!

And as always, if you need advice or you would like to speak to a member of our team about some of the options discussed in this article, please call 01977 687 665.