Summer Signage
If your pub has an outside courtyard or garden, why not make it work for you? With
relatively little cost the external areas can be spruced up and made pretty for
new clients, as well as your existing punters, to enjoy in the warmer weather.
Or you could go one step further and organise a special event to entice consumers
to stay for longer with a meal and drink.
>How
can you set up your pub garden for activities this summer? What are the
benefits of organising pub garden events? What do you need to bear in mind when
planning outdoor summer events?
How
to prepare your pub’s outside area
Morning
Advertiser highlights the trend of pub landlords and managers maximising
space for customers by moving outdoors.
“Licensees
are using every single bit of space available outdoors to put on crowd-pleasing
events, whilst bringing in much needed extra revenue.”
Any outdoor area that comes with your premises is
worth making the most of. Look at the space you have and consult a professional
landscaper for help if your budget allows. It’s all about creating a space that
will enable visitors to relax in attractive surroundings. It’s more than just a
superficial lick of paint on the fence and planting a few shrubs as the area
needs to work practically providing for a large number of people to gather and
move around without feeling overcrowded and restrictive.
Create a focal point by lighting up a small tree or
water feature, add a decked or paved area for seating or tack on a conservatory
where customers can feel they are ‘in the garden’ all year round. If you have a
river or stream running through, open it up whilst making access safe for
children, as running water creates an aesthetic and calming atmosphere adding
to the enjoyment of patrons.
Lighting is very important not only from a safety
perspective but also to add to the ambience of the garden. If you would like
people to stay longer then provide comfy seating such as outdoor modular sofas,
hammocks and beanbags for the children.
An outdoor bar or pizza oven are useful additions to
your garden if you plan to put on special events in the summer. You can go one stage
further with an outdoor kitchen if you have the space and financial resources.
Not only will your garden need to look the part but
there are also legal considerations to be aware of.
Checklist
– Legal Obligations of Licensees for outdoor events
As a first port of call it’s a good idea to read up
on your local licensing authority’s statement of licensing policy on the council
website. As a guide the following steps need to be covered before you plan any
summer events in your pub garden:
- Advise the local authority of your plans
as soon as possible - Check your existing premises license to
see if it includes off sales and no restrictive conditions or on sales and the
outdoor area is licensed for alcohol sales - Clearly define your outdoor area using OS
coordinates if necessary - If you are likely to run an event for 499
or less customers, you can use the TEN or temporary event notice. - If there is likely to be more than 500 a
full premises license needs to be obtained - Will you remain on sales or require off
sales as well if you are offering takeaways? - Make sure you are up to scratch with
health and safety stipulations - Give your neighbours advance warning and
offer them an invite - Check you don’t need other permissions
for your event such as copyright, food safety regulations, firework and
pyrotechnics or event insurance - If you are including musical
entertainment The Live Music Act 2012 allows for a maximum of 500 people
without a license
(Poppleston Allen Solicitors)
With the legalities sorted you can now start to plan
your event in detail. For ideas of what to do, learn from other successful landlords
and the many creative ways they have increased their pub revenue whilst
enticing new customers onto their premises.
Ideas
for pub garden events
“As
a pub landlord I consider myself to be a facilitator for people to have a good
time. There’s nothing more rewarding than feeling that buzz you get from a
packed pub, the sound of laughter, music and clinking glasses and it’s the same
when you stage a music festival at your pub!”
(Kevin Abbot, The Anchor, Wingham,
Kent)
Festivals – a great way
to attract more custom especially if you plan to have live music as well as a
special drinks promotion and accompanying food. Eg Cider and Hog Roast, gin
festivals, beer tasting, cocktail parties and BBQ’s.
Family Days – games,
food and drink in a relaxed setting. Parents can sit on the lawn whilst they
watch their children play.
Performances –
Shakespeare plays are performed outdoors as they were originally for audience
participation and an authentic atmosphere. Food and drink are thrown in on the
ticket to encourage customers to stay longer.
Fundraising events – an
opportunity to help communities raise valuable funds for a local need whilst
creating an opportunity to congregate for a good time. Be as creative as you
need to be whilst making use of the outdoor space; novel ideas include a human
table football, Bucking Bronco and boat races on the river!
Horticultural events-
what better place to learn about healthy food and sustainable practice than in
the garden. Discounted food and drinks are offered on the tickets.
Bingo and quizzes in the
garden– old favourites which always go down well and require little organising.
Art and Photography
exhibitions – a lovely way to publicise local artists and to sell their work.
How
can Roller Banners help with your pub garden event?
If you need to ‘dress
your garden’ for a theatrical set or a backdrop for your charity event then
consider the wide
roller banner collection which can be designed to your
specifications, printed in house and delivered within a standards.
The Eazy
Promotional Counter would make a great service area for sampling
a promotional drink or handing out burgers or pizza. If you need extra shelter
for your customers when the British weather isn’t playing ball, the printed Gazebo
Tent
can be adorned with your chosen design and easily set up and stored for each event.
Outdoor
roll up banners create impact whilst advertising your
event and table
top roller banners neatly display the finer details such as
drink prices, menus and signage.
Draw incidental custom
off the street with sturdy pavement
signs and use an array of flags
to spotlight entrances, exits and special features.
Print off advertising flyers,
information leaflets,
pub business cards or table cards
outlining event timings.
Learning what your
customers like takes initiative and conscientiously listening to their
feedback. Use this information to come up with a creative and novel idea to
host an event and share it with the Roller Banners design team who are here to talk
through and realise these concepts.
Call (02380) 700111