More than 17,000 extra outdoor seats on streets last year

More than 3,300 fast track applications have been lodged by businesses such as cafes, bars and restaurants to expand their footprint onto England’s streets.

PwC analysed 3,366 applications across 343 civic bodies covering England’s unitary authorities, metropolitan districts, London boroughs, county and district councils where the licences can be granted. Breakdowns of the 1,022 licences with available tables and chairs data placed at least 17,045  extra customer seats outside.

Of the 3,366 applications tracked to June 2021, 2,061 were approved, with 350 rejected, 490 pending and 11 withdrawn. Hotspots include Westminster - which hosts more than 3,700 bars, restaurants and pubs - processing more than a third of total applications (1,310), Kensington & Chelsea (442), Hackney (95), Islington (74) in London. Across the country, there was also significant uptake in Northern cities including Liverpool (348) Newcastle (103) and Bradford (54).

Pavement licences are valid for between up to 12 months, having been introduced by the government on 22 July 2020 to help English businesses boost customer numbers outside and partially offset the impact of social distancing and indoor restrictions on revenues.  

Pavement licences have been particularly popular due to the speed of processing. Applications can be approved in 10 working days in some cases. In comparison, a standard tables and chairs licence can take up to eight weeks for consultation and approval, and cost more than £1,200 for five tables or more.

Zelf Hussain, retail restructuring partner at PwC, said: “The take up of these pavement licences shows that for all forms of hospitality businesses, just how much effort they are making to keep going and how every penny counts, especially in times of financial stress.

“The last social distancing restrictions are lifting, but we’ve seen businesses encouraging customers to keep using their outdoor spaces. Some customers still feel more comfortable being outside, especially during the summer months, helping to allay any lingering concerns about meeting indoors. One seat, or cover, at a casual dining operator can generate around £6800 a year. Consequently the revenue generated for thousands of businesses by having an extra 17,045 seats operating for an average of 10 hours a day throughout the week at various points over the last year across England, can be vital to their survival.”