Restaurants invest in outdoor space to get back to business

Atique Choudhury @Yum Yum

Restaurants invest in outdoor space to get back to business

Restaurants are taking advantage of government support and investing in outside space, with many counting on outdoor dining to give their businesses a muchneeded boost. With diners desperate to eat out, and restaurants equally desperate to welcome them, outdoor areas have been reinvented, created and spruced up. Government measures to support this include allowing outdoor shelters and marquees to be set up without planning permissions and a lower cost for temporary pavement licences. North London-based Yum Yum Thai is one example of a restaurant that has reinvented its outdoor space, and which sees this investment paying off in the long term. Its garden space, located at the front of the restaurant, has been landscaped, with the addition of decking and greenery, as well as a service station, enabling the restaurant to run a smoother operation. The refurbishment has increased the restaurant’s 22-cover capacity by 15, offering space for 37 diners. For owner Atique Choudhury, this is a ‘light investment’ that will benefit his business in the long-term. “Even after the opening of the main restaurant [on 17 May], the garden will be the focal point - we are hopefully heading towards a very hot summer so the garden area will be a blessing,” says Choudhury. “When people look at the restaurant the first thing they see is the garden, which looks inviting.” The menu has also been slimmed down for the outside operation. Choudhury says that being flexible and willing to make changes is key to operating such a service - two booths offer additional shelter from the elements while blankets and heaters are available too. Several hundred outdoor seats have also been created around Covent Garden, with a new alfresco seating plan spanning seven streets in the area as well as the central piazza. London’s Chinatown is also providing outdoor tables and seating for people to enjoy dishes under the area’s iconic red lanterns.

Atique Choudhury @Yum Yum