We need roads to close, say bar bosses
HOSPITALITY bosses say they want permanent road closures after pubs and restaurants were given the green light to make outdoor eating and drinking a full-time fixture.
An announcement in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech allows councils to grant ‘pavement licences’ on a permanent basis in a boost for businesses trying to recover from the Covid pandemic.
The government said it would be ‘ensuring everyone can continue to benefit from al fresco dining,’ with the The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill aiming to ‘drive local growth’ in a bid to further regenerate local authority areas. But bosses of some hospitality venues in Manchester claimed the announcement doesn’t go far enough as pavements won’t provide enough space to allow them to draw in more customers.
Braddan Quayle, owner of Northern Quarter bar Alvarium, said: “On the surface these pavement licensings are fantastic and appear great for businesses, but we don’t have the luxury of being able to really see the benefits because of the size of the pavement outside. Business like ours would really only benefit from full road closures to make the most of outside dining. If you don’t have a big frontage, then today’s news really does nothing at all to help us. There has to be so much space for pedestrians and disabled access, and for many streets in the UK, they are just too narrow and it significantly reduces the area.”
Andy Young, part of the team behind Black Milk in Northern Quarter, said: “What has been announced today has brought no change at all for us. Manchester city council has always been incredibly helpful, and we have always had benches outside whilst still being considerate and allowing for a clear walkway along the pavement. During Covid we got a taste of how pedestrianising the roads could be for business, and we want that to return.”
UKHospitality’s CEO Kate Nicholls said: “Making pavement licences permanent is a really positive move. They were vital during the pandemic enabling businesses to trade, when they would otherwise be forced to close or restrict their opening hours. These outdoor spaces also benefit town and city centres, enabling them to enjoy the sort of outdoor experiences available elsewhere, and helping local economies recover faster, contributing to levelling up.”