3 Creative Ways To Turn Your Venue’s Terrace Into An All-Weather Retreat
A terrace is a blessing for any hospitality venue. It’s the perfect spot for guests to eat and drink al-fresco in relaxed surroundings, improving their experience (and making them more likely to return!). Terraces also create space for more covers, boosting your business’s profit-making potential.
Of course, making use of your terrace gets a lot harder when the weather takes a turn. Cold, rain, and even the midday sun can put a serious damper on things, scaring away most customers and sending the rest sheltering indoors.
Luckily, closing your terrace isn’t your only option. With the right preparations, you can transform your terrace from a damp piece of pavement into a warm, well-protected shelter for guests to enjoy all year round.
As the UK's foremost experts in outdoor commercial shading solutions, we’re here to guide you through all the weather conditions your terrace needs protection from and, more importantly, how to achieve it. Let’s dive in!
1. Protect Your Guests from Rain or Shine
Ah, rain. Would it really be a British summer without it? Rain is an unfortunate reality throughout even the hottest months, and it dissuades people from sitting outside more than any other weather condition.
Rain is one of the biggest concerns for an outdoor venue space - after all, no one likes getting soaked through as they enjoy their Sunday roast - but it’s not your only problem. When the height of summer rolls around, sitting in the sun goes from a cool, relaxing time to a sweaty and miserable one. It also puts guests at risk of sunburn or even sunstroke.
Whether the heavens are pouring, or the sun is scorching, having the right shading solution is key to keeping your guests dry, cool, and comfortable. Here are three of the best options for achieving this:
- Awnings can be easily unrolled when needed to block out the sun and rain. They’re best suited for smaller terraces with fewer tables, as they can only protect areas close to the wall they're fitted onto.
- Parasols have a charmingly classic look that makes them popular in cafés and restaurants. They’re a great choice for terraces with tables spread far apart.
- Many pergolas have tiltable louvres you can operate automatically to the position you want. You have total control over the opening, closing, and tilting mechanism, so it’s simple to let in as much or little sun as you’d like. Pergolas can also be upgraded with sliding glass panels and roller screens, providing extra protection from the sides. They’re ideal for larger spaces and those particularly exposed to the elements.
2. Keep Your Terrace Warm and Cosy
It’s not just the sun and rain you need to watch out for - as the leaves turn red and the air grows colder, you’ll notice fewer and fewer people sitting outside. By November and December, the only people left will be the few souls brave enough to face the winter chill head on.
The easiest way to keep your terrace warm throughout the winter is with outdoor heaters. While standalone heaters are a good choice, the safest and most elegant solution lies in wall-mounted heaters fitted around your terrace. Not only do they keep your guests warm, but they also have a red glow that makes the space feel even cosier.
For a more subtle look, you can choose to have your heaters fitted under the arms of your pergola instead of on a nearby wall.
Modern outdoor heaters - like the ones installed by Broadview - can be turned on and off with a simple-to-use remote control. This makes controlling the temperature of your terrace easier than ever.
3. Let There Be Light!
Colder days mean darker days. As the sun sets earlier and earlier, you’ll have less time to keep your terrace open for guests - unless, of course, you have a proper lighting system set up.
Whether you're looking to add a soft and romantic glow or a vibrant burst of colour, there are virtually endless lighting options for you to choose from. Here are a few ideas to bring your vision to life:
- Fairy lights can be draped along pergolas, wrapped around trees, or hung overhead to create an air of magic.
- Hang lanterns from hooks, place them on tables, or line pathways with them for a more rustic vibe.
- Add drama with LED light strips integrated in the structure of your pergola. Many integrated pergola lights (like the ones we install) are remote controllable and dimmable, making them an especially convenient option.
Upgrade Your Terrace with a Bespoke Shading Solution from Broadview
At Broadview, our goal is to help you create the best possible experience for your guests. All our shading solutions are designed with quality, style, and durability in mind, so you can rely on them to protect your terrace for years to come.
We offer incredible flexibility when it comes to installation. You have the freedom to choose how your shading is configured: whether it's attached to your building, linked together to cover a larger area, or freestanding on your terrace, the choice is entirely yours. And to make sure your shading perfectly complements your terrace's colour scheme, we offer a wide range of RAL colours for you to choose from.
But why stop there? We also have a range of optional extras to make your shading even more practical. From heaters and lighting to glass screens, remote control, and more, you can customise your shading to fulfil all of your business needs.
Trust Broadview to create an all-weather space your guests will love. Book a consultation online or call us on 01202 679 012 today!
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