3 Essential Facts To Consider For Pavement Dining

There’s nothing better than taking a seat at a pavement cafe with a glass of something long and cold sitting watching the world go by. While people watching is so ‘de rigueur’, there are other strong reasons why cafe owners should be falling over themselves to move their business out onto the street. The potential to maximise profit by instantly creating more floor space is something that many savvy business owners recognise, but before you take your business to the pavement there are some essential facts you really should consider. Let’s take a closer look.

Follow the guidelines

In Melbourne and the surrounding areas, councils have strict guidelines on the style and type of furniture you need so it’s necessary to make sure you adhere to them. Generally speaking all chairs, tables, and umbrellas should be of a temporary nature in that they can easily be removed at the end of the working day. All furniture needs to match your interior so that the area looks like an extension of your cafe. Furniture should be such that it doesn’t damage the pavement area (eg, acceptable caps on table and chair legs) and any fencing and boundaries which make the space ‘private’ should be avoided. Finally, pavement furniture needs to pass the pedestrian access test. Sufficient space is required so that two mobility aids or child’s pushchairs can pass each other comfortably.

License costs are location specific

Another important aspect of pavement dining is the variation in cost of a pavement license. For example if you’re located in a busy area such as the South Bank or the bustling areas of Collins, Bourke, or Lonsdale Street then you’ll pay considerably more than if you were located in an up and coming bohemian area such as Carlton or Fitzroy. Licenses can range from anywhere between $200 – $700 so do bear this in mind as it can have a big effect on your bottom line.

Existing infrastructure mightn’t be permanent

Despite all the rules and regulations surrounding obtaining a pavement license, Melbourne councils are actively looking to encourage pavement cafe culture. Clusters of cafes competing for business creates a thriving culture which many city councils recognise. That said, most councils require a minimum footpath space of 3.4 metres. This is deemed sufficient enough to accommodate seating without obstructing the flow of pedestrians looking to pass by. If there is existing infrastructure such as cycle hoops, bins, and planters, that might obstruct this much needed floor space, it may be possible to ask the council if they could remove and relocate them to another area.

So there you have it – 3 essential facts about pavement dining you really need to know. Here at Cafe Furniture Melbourne we have a wide range of commercial-grade outdoor cafe furniture available for you to browse and buy. Why not pop into our Campbellfield showroom, or alternatively, log onto our Cafe Furniture Melbourne website and take a look at what we have to offer. We also have an experienced team in place to answer any questions you have, so feel free to give us a call on 03 9357 9688.