How to set up your F&B business for outdoor dining

Nothing quite says a British summer like a few pints in the beer garden. 

With hotter days sweeping across the UK, many restaurants, pubs, and bars are moving their services outside to meet the demand for alfresco dining throughout July and August.

But a successful outdoor setup isn’t as simple as moving a few tables outside. To make the most of your offering, there’s a list of jobs and considerations you’ll need to tick off first — from staffing and service flow, to weather protection and customer experience.

Here are seven simple ways to step out into outdoor dining successfully.

1. Check legal and licensing requirements

It might be tempting to get started on your outdoor dining plans right away, but unfortunately, you can’t just jump into it.

First, you’ll have to contact your local council for a “pavement license” — a permit that allows cafes, restaurants, pubs, and bars to place tables and chairs on a public pavement or highway outside their premises. You’ll also be permitted to serve food and drink within these designated areas. 

Keep in mind that you may face certain restrictions, such as how big the furniture can be, depending on your local council. Most councils will also require you to bring your customers inside by 10pm to avoid noise complaints.

Temporary Event Notice (England and Wales)

If your set-up is for a single event, you might need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), which is a short-term permit that allows you to carry out licensable activities for a singular event. For example, if you run a coffee shop and don’t usually serve alcohol and want to do so for a special occasion, like a summer outdoor book club, then you’ll need to obtain a TEN from your local council.

2. Plan the layout and design

When planning your outdoor space, it won’t be as simple as sticking a few tables and chairs around and calling it a day.

Instead, you should make sure that there’s actually enough room for furniture. Remember to keep walking space and accessibility for buggies or wheelchair users in mind too. If your space is too cramped, it’ll be extremely difficult for customers to get around, or for staff to serve food and drink efficiently. You might be restricted by your pavement license here also.

Additionally, you should also think about lighting, especially if you’re going to stay open late. String lights, lanterns, or outdoor LED lights can help with both ambience and visibility when it gets dark out. 

3. Create a vibe

This is where you’ll need to think about your business’s branding and how it translates into an outdoor dining space. 

For example, if your pub or restaurant is all about offering a cosy and warm setting, it would be a little odd if your beer garden felt like a leftover patch of concrete and plastic chairs.

Consider what decor you’ll use, such as plants, flowers, cushions and music to match the atmosphere you’re looking to bring. 

Outdoor seating is highly sought-after in certain locations, particularly inner cities. That’s why it helps to make the space aesthetically pleasing, as a nice backdrop can go a long way in getting good foot traffic through word of mouth or platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

4. Adapt your operations

It’s important to think about how your existing tech might need to be adapted for the outdoors. For example, consider whether the ordering software you’re currently using has a decent battery life. 

Specifically, you should look at whether your provider offers handheld devices or mobile POS systems so that staff can easily take orders and payments outside.

Also, while expanding outside can be an exciting venture, you’ll need to think about how it’ll affect your operations first. For example, do you have an adequate number of staff who can take on extra orders? Will your current servers, chefs and bussers be able to efficiently serve outdoor customers without slowing down indoor operations?

5. Promote your outdoor space

A practical and eye-catching outdoor space won’t mean anything if people don’t know about it. Therefore, this is the golden opportunity to use your marketing skills and promote your latest addition, whether that’s through your business website, social media, or email. 

You should also update your listings on your Google Business Profile to make it clear you offer outdoor dining and drinking space to patrons who are craving some Vitamin D.

Offline, you can use pavement chalkboards or banners to draw in foot traffic. Special events, such as happy hours, acoustic nights, or brunch outdoors, can also help to spread the word.

6. Make it weather-proof

Unfortunately, British weather is notoriously unpredictable, even during the hottest months sometimes. We’re all prone to a bit of rain, but it can have a disastrous effect on your outdoor furniture if it isn’t weather-proofed.

Opt for durable and weather-resistant furniture, such as plastic, aluminium, metal and wicker, that can withstand all kinds of weather conditions. You should also laminate menus to prevent water damage. 

But even when it’s not raining, you should consider offering umbrellas, pergolas, or retractable awnings to shield diners from the sun. 

And, when winter does unfortunately arrive, if customers decide to brave cold weather by sitting outside, patio heaters can be useful for comfort during the chilly months.

7. Keep it clean

The rain isn’t going to do the job for you, so you’ll be just as responsible for keeping the outdoor space as clean as your indoor premises. 

Annoyingly, outdoor areas get dusty and dirty faster, so you’ll need to frequently clean tables, chairs and surfaces to maintain a good level of hygiene.

Also, the nicer weather often brings in some unwanted guests, particularly flies and wasps. No one wants to be constantly swatting at the air, so adequate pest control can help keep those pesky critters away and keep customers satisfied. 

Citronella fragrant grass can help repel certain insects, while fans or discreet traps can keep them at bay without disrupting the dining experience.

Why offer outdoor dining?

Aside from the obvious benefit of attracting foot traffic and boosting earnings, good outdoor dining offers a unique experience that you don’t always get with an indoor setting. 

Demand for al fresco eating and drinking experiences is also growing, after it flourished across the country following the COVID pandemic.

If you’re based in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan recently introduced the Summer Street Fund to help hospitality businesses provide outdoor hotspots across the city.

Whether it’s a limited-time special or a permanent offering, outdoor dining should definitely be on your menu this year.