Pavement culture licence extension to help hospitality
PLANS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PUBS AND RESTAURANTS TO SERVE CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE
NOTTINGHAM’S thriving pub and restaurant pavement culture could continue for another year, as licences are set to be extended.
Communities Secretary and Newark MP Robert Jenrick announced he intends to extend pavement licences for a further 12 months to help the hospitality industry recover once lockdown restrictions are lifted – subject to parliamentary approval.
Details of the announcement were included in a letter to councils urging them to do “everything possible” to get ready for the reopening of the country’s high streets.
Under the new roadmap measures, hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors from no earlier than April 12.
Extending provisions around pavement licences will make it easier and cheaper for pubs, restaurants and cafes to serve people outside.
The extension supports a series of measures introduced last year by the Government to help hospitality businesses recover, which will remain in place as restrictions start to ease. These include:
Relaxation of planning rules to allow pubs and restaurants to operate as takeaways.
Greater flexibility for land to be used for temporary events, such as markets and motorsports.
Planning freedoms to allow outdoor markets, marquees, pop-up car-boot sales or summer fairs without the need of a planning application.
Craig Pennington, landlord of the Lord Roberts pub in Broad Street, Hockley, said: “It was brilliant last year and the council were really quick to get it sorted. We have a nice beer garden but it is good to have seats at the front too as it attracts new custom - so long may it continue.
“Hockley itself, in the sunshine when everyone is out, it’s just lovely, so it’s definitely the right thing to do. All businesses have struggled so every little helps.
“I am quite pleased how the measures are being lifted, as we have a month with just outdoor spaces which will give us time to adjust.”
Lau Wensink, one of the directors at indie bar, 31K in Goosegate, said: “It’s been a bit of a difficult one for us really - the council has helped us with extending our licence but we were promised more seating outside our second business, Yolk, by utilising part of Brightmoor Street.
“This was meant to be by March which would have been perfect timing, but unfortunately won’t be happening now until August as I believe more work is needed. So we will be opening April 14 with just the seating we had before, the terrace at 31K and a couple of tables outside Yolk. I don’t think it’s really enough to generate a sustainable source of income, but we should be able to pull through.
“We have had our liquor licence extended to the tables we do have, so we are free to serve more with what we have. Last year, we were open maybe two-and-a-half months but the support was incredibly encouraging - it doesn’t recover losses but we have got to move forward and I am excited to reopen and I think we stand a good chance now.”
Councillor Sam Webster, portfolio holder for finance, growth and the city centre at Nottingham City Council, said: “We recognise the urgent need to support businesses, particularly those in hospitality, to reopen safely postlockdown. The council will continue to work pro-actively with traders who wish to expand existing licensed seating areas, or those looking at an outdoor area for the first time to support their business or help with social distancing and queuing.
“We have set up our own fast-track process and this proved extremely popular when we ran this over spring and summer. It will not only help businesses to operate in a Covid-safe manner, but also allow them to do so in a way which increases their capacity.”
THOUSANDS of tickets for student events at Nottingham’s Rock City have sold out in record time.
The popular nightclub confirmed up to 4,600 tickets for events on June 22 and 23 sold out within 15 minutes, causing the online booking system to crash.
Both events are being organised by the Carpe Noctum events firm and were announced to coincide with the reopening of nightclubs, which could be as early as June 21.
The Crisis all-nighter event will have up to 2,300 students attending the club on both nights.
Andrew Smith, managing director of Carpe Noctum, said: “It’s a final chance for students to celebrate their time at university, something that the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 have been denied due to Covid.
“Both events have sold out in record time - we are oversubscribed with customers wanting to attend.
“We’ve been trying to spread the tickets as fairly as possible so everyone gets to go to something.”
These events fall after the June 21, which is the theoretical date for all restrictions being relaxed.
“Our Covid-safe strategy will depend on what rules are in place nearer the event. At a minimum, we can ensure adequate handwashing and sanitising facilities.
“We don’t rule out requiring negative Covid lateral flow test results or even attendees to wear masks.
“But it really depends on what restrictions we are dealt in June.
“It may be a case that there is a new spike and we have to reschedule or refund, in which case we are prepared to do so. Or, we may finally get lucky and we are able to operate restriction-free.
“We are lucky that our customers have been understanding and are prepared to adapt to circumstances as they happen. We are hoping for the best, but ready for the worst.”
A Rock City spokesperson said: “We are really happy to see that some of our first events back have sold so well and the reaction has been so positive.
“We are currently releasing events for our Outdoor Bar which will open in April – then our indoor Sitdown Sessions which will open in May – then finally back to what we have all been waiting for, on June 21.
“It’s safe to say we are looking forward to getting back into the venue and providing a safe and secure environment for people to finally get out and enjoy themselves.”
Nottingham students say they have been waiting for this moment.
Kieran Burt, a second year politics and international relations student, 20, said: “It’s a sign of returning to normality which we all want, a sign that we can move on. It’s also good for Rock City as no doubt they have struggled over this period.”