We've been promised good weather this summer - at long last. With two terrible ones behind us, there's no doubt that customers will be itching to get outside and enjoy the outdoors again.
So the time is right to start sprucing up and making the most of any outside space you have, be that a few benches in front of your pub, or a two-acre paddock behind it. Here we profile the options to suit every budget (and any weather) and help you make the most of your outdoor space.
Gutter system for parasols
There are two uses for this UPVC guttering system. The first is pretty obvious. Square parasols can be joined together with a gutter to prevent rain gushing through the gaps and giving your customers a soaking. However, the optimists among us are expecting plenty of sunshine this summer and they can come in handy for that too, believe it or not. A number of parasols can be joined together with the gutters to produce one continuous canopy. Sides can also be added, with optional windows and doors and - hey presto! - you have yourself a marquee fashioned from your existing umbrellas. This can be used by drinkers and diners, or hired out as a separate venue.Indigo will custom-make the guttering to fit existing parasols or these are available to purchase.Guttering starts at £250, side panels at £350 and parasols at £1,700 for a crank-operated canopy, designed to withstand strong winds.
Contact: www.indigoawnings.co.uk
Tel: 0845 050 8969
Outdoor furniture and shade rental
If your outdoor area needs sprucing up, but you can't afford to splash out in one go, fear not. You can now rent packages of outdoor furniture including tables, chairs, screens, parasols, awnings, heating and lighting. Prices start at £25 per week for a package that includes a range of products of your own choice on a three-year leasing plan from Inn-Fresco. There are also packages for £40 per week and £65 per week, depending on the products you choose. For example, one of the most popular packages includes a four-metre parasol complete with portable base, tables, chairs and heating - it doesn't require planning and costs £25 per week.
Contact: www.inn-fresco.co.uk
Tel: 0870 8030 199
All-weather awning
British weather can go from rain, to shine, to back again within a matter of hours. So the Pergotenda All Weather Awning from Deans is designed to be versatile enough to cope with most weather conditions and help you extend the use of your outdoor space. This durable awning is designed specifically for use in poor weather conditions. It's made of rainproof fabric, can be enclosed with retractable side screens and can cope with wind speeds of up to 50mph. But, when the sun is shining the awning can be fully retracted so customers can soak up some rays. Prices start at £3,000.
Contact: www.deansblinds.co.uk
Tel: 020 8947 8931
Outdoor waterproof TVs
From screening sport, to setting up your own cinema nights and screening films, outdoor TVs are one way of differentiating your offer. The TVs are made from a lightweight aluminium frame and toughened glass, meaning they are vandal and weatherproof. AD Direct UK offer rental of the TVs, which range in size from 42ins to 55ins, from £22.50 per week. This includes installation, secured fixing to a wall, and four years' insurance.
Contact: www.addirectuk.com
Tel: 0800 970 2721
Plancha cooking table
There are few things that seem to impress customers so much as cooking their own food. Which is great news for a pub as it involves minimum labour, but customers get a memorable and fun experience. Hot stones and mini griddles will suffice, but Calor has come up with something altogether more theatrical for al fresco dining. With the Plancha table, groups of up to 10 can stuff themselves silly using the gas-powered cooking plate in the centre of the table. Raw ingredients, from fish and meat to vegetables, or even fruit, can be cooked on the table, which cooks food in its own juices and is ready for use a few minutes after lighting. The Plancha is available in four sizes in a choice of wood or stone and runs on Calor LPG cylinders. Prices start at £475.
Contact: www.bbq.co.uk
Tel: 0800 121 7813
Economical outdoor heater
Summer may be about to begin but, sadly, we all know that doesn't mean we are guaranteed good weather. And it can get chilly when the sun goes down even after the hottest of days. So for those cold days or late nights where people still want to use the garden but find themselves shivering, its worth thinking about heating for your outdoor spaces. Dimplex has created an electric patio heater that is economical and environmentally-friendly. The OPH Outdoor Heater produces a beam of heat with a short wavelength which feels similar to the warm rays of the sun. This means that people within the beams' reach feel the warmth, whereas the air in between is not heated, so no heat is lost to the environment. Running costs can be around 10p an hour. Prices for the heaters are available on request.
Contact: www.dimplex.co.uk
Tel: 01489 773336