1) Shelter
Creation of outdoor “garden rooms” is hailed as a success by John Hooker at the Cornish Arms and Brian Keeley-Whiting at pub co Whiting & Hammond. Read their article published by the Morning Advertiser at https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Legal/Property-law/Making-your-beer-garden-a-winter-wonderland where John reports a 15% increase in winter trade as a result of the new garden! Amazing!
2) Heaters
Customers are always drawn to a source of heat during the chilly autumn. Woodberry now offer a small range of heaters, both gas and electric. Infra-red electric heaters are generally much more power-efficient but do require a power supply so be careful not to leave trailing wires around your garden.
3) Lighting
Look after the safety and comfort of your customers by ensuring that your outside area has sufficient lighting. If you outdoor area is large then this can be costly, so in this case, ensure that there is an area of well-lit space with adequate seating. There’s some great tips at https://howtorunapub.co.uk/outsidebeer-gardendeck-lighting/
4) Blankets
Woodberry have recently discovered that making blankets available to your customers is a cost-effective way to improve the comfort of those that choose to go outside. It’s best to have them available in an outdoor storage box that’s easily accessible to your customers, but keeps them clean and dry.
5) Keep it tidy
Finally, one of the essentials in Autumn is an occasional sweep-up of leaves and a regular check for litter. This is important because littered or leafy areas will often attract vermin and other pests, which in turn leave smells and muck around.
We’d love to hear your comments and feedback!
Howard Barr, Marketing Manager, Woodberry