Dining out, Cardiff-style, on city’s busiest streets
THIS is how one of Cardiff’s busiest streets will look when transformed into a hub for alfresco diners as the lockdown is eased.
Since Monday, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants have been able to reopen outdoors following a consistent decline in coronavirus cases across Wales.
Cardiff council previously revealed plans for outdoor seating areas to help businesses which still need to follow social distancing rules.
Now they have released an artist’s impression which shows the new outdoor, covered, eating area on Castle Street.
The council said visitors will be able to order food and drinks for delivery from a selection of restaurants and cafes in the city centre via an app.
Work on asphalting Castle Street has already taken place and the council said they hope the new outdoor area could be available to use by the end of July.
The council added that it was planning more on-street “spill out spaces” for hospitality businesses and setting up zones across the city to entertain people outdoors in socially-distanced settings.
Businesses would be allowed to use the proposed spill out spaces free of charge. The other spaces proposed include the northern end of Churchill Way, The Hayes and Mill Lane.
The council said previously: “The council recognises that several businesses in the hospitality sector (restaurants/cafes/bars) could be seriously affected by the need to follow social distancing rules.
“With that in mind, the council is proposing to open up spill-out areas on the public realm to businesses to use free of charge.
“It is essential that the key streets, public spaces and new spill-out spaces allow social distancing, are safe, well connected, and present an attractive green and friendly environment appropriate in a capital city.
“The plan identifies a number of ‘spill-out spaces’ where there can be more managed social activity and safe events.”
The proposals to help businesses are the second part of a larger plan, which has already seen a number of changes to the city centre.
A one-way system is in place across large parts of the centre and manned welcome points have been set up.
Other measures brought in include: More 20mph zones; widening pavements; more cycleways; manned city centre welcome points; demarcated pedestrian footways; queuing space; changes to car parking and traffic movement (including buses) around the city centre.
The council said further information on Castle Street will be released closer to its opening date.