So, folks, it looks like we’ll be doing a lot more dining outside this year and beyond.
How wonderful!
In fact, it’s hard to think of a better way to eat with friends, family, and business colleagues. Once the warmer months arrive, everyone always scrambles for any available outdoor space, therefore why shouldn’t we make alfresco dining more of a habit?
We may not be blessed with round-the-clock Australia-like weather in the UK, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of it when it is here.
Here’s why the post-lockdown world of alfresco dining is going to be good for us all.....
It gets us outside!
Any doctor, physician, or health professional will tell you that one of the best things you can do to become healthy is get as much fresh air as possible.
Being outside does three important things for us humans:
- it boosts moods, thanks to the intake of oxygen, natural smells, and that blast of Vitamin D;
- it energises, by making you feel less fatigued and more alert; and
- it improves the immune system thanks to the clean, fresh air you’re breathing in.
If you’ve been stuck inside for days on end, you’ll know how much of a problem that can be over time. It’s therefore no wonder that the thought of alfresco dining is so high on the agenda for most people in the UK.
The thought of getting outside and experiencing the aforementioned health benefits is quite a thing, isn’t it?
You’ll be able to welcome more guests
One of the best things about alfresco dining is that it offers far more space than when you’re cooped up inside.
This is likely to be a huge benefit to hospitality operators with limited indoor dining. With more space to play with outside, they can welcome more guests and bigger parties when it’s safe to do so.
You can do the same at home. Why attempt to cram everyone into your dining room when you can set up something in the back garden?
Alfresco dining could solve the booking conundrum
The inability to book a table for an evening out is problematic for both the restaurant and the guest. Restaurants want to maximise cover numbers for every shift, and diners want somewhere convenient to enjoy someone else’s cooking and ambiance.
Alfresco dining could be the saviour here. With nowhere left to book indoors and demand likely to be high as we head deeper into 2021, outside catering areas are going to become increasingly important.
For guests, it means they’ll be able to find a space, no matter how busy the venue might be. For the restaurant owner, it means they can expand their capacity significantly and experience a similar upturn in profits.
The challenge is the additional kit, cutlery, and glassware needed, but there’s a simple answer for that, too.
Hire it in!
As noted earlier, the UK isn’t blessed with the most consistent or predictable weather. This means that alfresco dining will be something that has to be light on its feet and capable of being spun up (and down) as Mother Nature allows.
We’re seeing an increasing number of venues put up semi-permanent marquees and large tents to help them make the most of the outdoors for summer 2021.
If you’re running a restaurant, investing in loads of new kit for your alfresco season probably doesn’t make financial sense. But hiring it makes plenty of sense.
It’s a far more cost-effective way to bring in the stuff you need, without it taking up space during the off-season. What’s more, you can bring it in at short notice to make the most of an unexpectedly warm Indian summer (we still get them, occasionally, after all!).
The same goes for alfresco dining at home. If you’re planning a few more BBQs than usual this summer and want to invite as many friends and family as possible, you’ll probably need some assistance when it comes to plates, glassware, and cutlery.
That’s where Plato comes in. We can help both professional operations and homeowners make the most of the expected boom in alfresco dining with our cost-effective hiring service.
Just get in touch today to find out more.