Woodman Inn Beer Garden

Plans for ‘al fresco pubs’, whereby pubs will be given more freedom to serve customers outside, have been welcomed.

The plans have been published in the UK government’s Business and Planning Bill, which will enable more pubs in England, as well as restaurants and cafés, to serve their customers outside. It will allow pubs to use terraces and car parks as dinning and drinking areas, subject to a streamlined local authority approval process.

The British Beer & Pub Association has said the move will enable pubs to serve more customers outside, while offering table service to customers indoors.

It was announced earlier this week that pubs will be able to re-open – indoors and outdoors – from 4th July. Guidance from the Government was also published earlier this week for pubs, which they will follow when they reopen. The BBPA said that, as a sector, pubs will be doing everything they can to ensure both customers and staff are safe when they return to their local.