COVID-19: Street markets and pub marquees can open year-round to aid hospitality | UK news

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Street markets and pub marquees could become permanent features of the hospitality industry, under an extension of the pandemic regulations planned by the government.

Additional seating for cafes and restaurants will be part of a new government advisory, with hospitality venues forced to increase outdoor capacity earlier in the year in a bid to welcome people back after lockdown.

The plans have been welcomed by the industry, but some want the government to go even further, restricting traffic within the city and town to encourage people to eat and drink in outdoor seating.

Image: The hospitality sector wants ministers to go further to retain outdoor seating on the streets by restricting traffic

Only some rules introduced during the pandemic will be considered in consultations, with the Department of Housing, Communities and local government announcing an exception for outdoor street dining, with many councils ending the schemes – although the government has expanded its capacity to grant them until next September.

One example is Westminster, where roads around Soho will soon begin to reopen after being closed to create a large outdoor seating area.

Supporting communities to set up outdoor markets is also part of the plans, by giving powers to local councils to give permission for an unlimited number of days.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “The simple reforms we’ve made during the pandemic to help hospitality businesses, markets and historic visitor attractions make use of outdoor spaces more easily, have had a massive impact.

“As part of our vision to transform the main streets into thriving places to work, visit and live, we intend to make as many of these permanent fixtures of British life as possible.”

Kate Nichols, chief hospitality officer at UKH Hospitality, said: “The proposal to make external measures permanent is a welcome boost for the hospitality industry, its clients and local communities.

“It has provided a vital lifeline to places across the country during a very difficult period, and allowing operators to provide additional outdoor seating has been a major driver of survival and recovery since it reopened.”

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But, she added, business “faces significant hurdles in the fall and winter.”

“The move by some councils to restrict outdoor seating and return traffic to these areas is a major blow to our city centers and threatens a large number of businesses and jobs.

“It is in the interests of the country to have a thriving, dynamic and properly supported hospitality sector and maintaining these external measures will help secure the recovery of a large and vital part of the UK economy.”

Iain Hoskins, owner of Ma Pub Group in Liverpool, added that outdoor hospitality was a way to allow people to safely return to places they would like to see extended.

He told Sky News: “People are still very nervous, and I think that gives people reassurance or gives people options if they know if the pub is too busy or they don’t think it’s airy enough.

“There’s always the option of eating out or working out, so I think it was a good thing, and I definitely think that’s something that should continue to go forward.”

Labor shadow communities secretary Steve Reed said: “We welcome measures to help businesses recover after the pandemic, but this is a conservative government that is undermining Main Street by allowing the conversion of retail space into low-quality housing and failing to level the playing field between brick and mortar companies and retailers. Online.

“The Conservatives have left our main streets and British businesses behind, blocked their entry when they should have been listened to the most, and have actively worked to water down a global deal to tackle massive tax evasion and stop the internet giants undermining our main streets.”

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