Ensure your outside space is inviting to customers
With autumn in the air and the days getting shorter, pubgoers are likely to be heading inside rather than opting for outdoor seating areas. While the legacy of Covid restrictions, which saw people obligated to gather in outdoor settings, has left pubs and restaurants with an abundance of blankets, heaters and outdoor lighting, it doesn’t hurt for these establishments to take a look around, clean up after the summer, and freshen up the space in time for winter.
Shelters and marquees are a good starting point as they will protect customers from the elements while creating a cosy environment. Lighting and heating are imperative, but these can also create ambience, so think soft bulbs hanging within the trees. Last year, CIC worked with community pub company, Hawthorn, who had been appointed to help the tenants of The Punch Hotel, Hull. Alongside renovating the interior, CIC also managed all exterior works to restore the outside seating area, including arranging for a mural of the old docks to be painted on a blank wall. The exterior of The Punch Hotel was cleaned and restored, vegetation was removed, and all exterior timber was painted. The result was an appealing, refreshed space which opened up extra seating for up to 100 people. We continue to deliver outside schemes for a number of pub companies such as Adrimal and Oakman Inns.
