PATRONS GIVE CP JOINTS A MISS FOR HAUZ KHAS VILLAGE
NEW DELHI: Restaurants in Connaught Place which used to take pride in their open terrace spaces are losing their patrons to places such as Hauz Khas village.
The rooftop sections of 21 restaurants/bars in Connaught Place were shut down a week ago when a portion of a building in C-block came crashing down.
Restaurateurs are worried that once the summer sets in, the open spaces would anyway lose their charm and it is the ongoing season during which they make the most of their their terrace space.
“There has a 30% drop in our businesses. This is the perfect time to sit in the open and enjoy the weather. Why will anyone come to CP now, when they can enjoy rooftop views elsewhere? Once this month gets over, who would want to sit on the roof in the heat,” said Akshay Anand, owner of the Town House Café.
“When we tell our guests that rooftop seating is closed, they cancel their bookings,” he said.
Another worry on the minds of the restaurant owners is the government’s move to make CP car free. The trial run, which was to start from February 1, had to be postponed due to protest by the shop owners. The restaurant owners fear the move will further dent their business.
Shweta Sachdeva, a banker, says that the now prefers Hauz Khas over Connaught Place. “These are the only few months when we get to party in the open space, so why would we want to miss that? Since CP doesn’t give us that privilege anymore, we have decided to make Hauz Khas Village our party hub,” she said.