In our latest guide we take you through all you need to know about claiming a grant for your café or restaurant street furniture, as part of the new government package to help the hospitality industry through the impact of coronavirus.
Helping hospitality
A key part of the government’s drive to reopen the hospitality industry this summer to protect hospitality jobs and get the economy moving included measures to make it easier for cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs to provide outdoor seating for their customers.
Providing increased outdoor seating options not only maximises the number of covers a business can provide, it also aids with social distancing and provides an option for people who are unable or unwilling to socialise in indoor public spaces.
How do I get a pavement license?
This summer, the government reduced the cost and streamlined the process through which businesses need to go through to provide outdoor seating in England.
Businesses still need to apply for a pavement license through their local authority’s website. However, the process is now easier and the waiting time to find out if the license has been granted has been reduced significantly from 28 calendar days to 5 working days from the day after the application is submitted online.
The fee for applying for a pavement licence varies been local authorities but has been capped at £100. All licenses are granted for 1 year with the caveat that this timeframe will not extend beyond September 30th, 2021.
How can I get a street furniture grant?
Once you obtain a pavement licence, the next job is to furnish your outdoor space. Currently, local authorities are also offering street furniture grants to help independent businesses who provide table service for food and drink.
Again, street furniture grants must be applied for via your local authority, and the amount of money you can apply for will vary according to where you are based, with grants of between £1000 and £4000 available depending on the extra number of covers created.
To find out how much money you could be entitled to, check out your local authority’s website, where you should be able to find information and an online application form.
To qualify, you will need to meet certain criteria, such as:
- You must pay business rates or receive small business rates relief from the local authority you are applying to.
- Your business must be a micro or small business (not part of a chain)
- The business must have a pre-established table-service offering.
- The business must have a pavement license under either the new or old guidance.
Also, it is important to arrange the necessary insurance cover for your outdoor seating area and make sure you stick rigidly to the rules about where and when you are allowed to provide outdoor seating.
Choosing street furniture for outdoor dining
The furniture you invest in for your alfresco area needs to tick a lot of boxes. Important points to consider include:
- Style: does it reflect your business’s ethos?
- Durability: can it withstand heavy use in the Great British weather?
- Flexibility: can it be easily moved around to accommodate customer needs while maintaining social distancing?
- Practicality: is it easy to care for and stack when not in use? And do you have somewhere to store it?
Trent’s Monaco Stacking Chair is a durable and stylish choice from our range of stacking chairs, available in a wide range of colours designed to pair effortlessly with our range of hardwearing but lightweight wood-topped or aluminium outdoor tables. Or for the ultimate in flexibility, why not choose a style such as the modern rattan Plaza range, which looks just as stylish indoors as it does on the pavement of any trendy high street?
Stylish outdoor furniture that’s built to last
Trent Furniture has a huge range of high quality and cost-effective outdoor furniture. For more information, please call us today on 0116 2988 692 or fill in our contact form.