Pilot scheme to help restaurants reimagine outdoor eating

Road closures, pop up parks and free trading permits are being introduced in Liverpool to help the hospitality sector recover from lockdown.

The pilot scheme is aimed at giving businesses in Liverpool the best chance of being ready to trade as soon as restrictions on hospitality businesses trading are lifted by the government.

It is part of the Liverpool Without Walls project which is reimagining the city under social distancing measures and is designed to provide support to help cafes and restaurants trade outside.

Bold Street will be closed to traffic across the summer and be the pilot for a new scheme of street furniture and 'parklets'.

The new seating and park areas will take over existing parking bays to transform the look of the street and, if successful, could be rolled out to other streets across the city.

Castle Street will also be closed to traffic to maximise the space available for restaurants to spill out onto the streets.

Consultation is taking place with businesses and transport providers to work out the most appropriate timing for closures.

All independent restaurants in the city can now apply for a grant of up to £4,000 for them to buy furniture which will allow them to trade outside.

Liverpool City Council says it will waive the £600 fee for a new street cafe licence for all new applications to ensure businesses don't have extra costs as they aim to get back on their feet.

The council says it has so far distributed more than £90 million of central government funding to over 7,300 small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.

The furniture on Bold Street will be installed early next month with the rollout of additional seating expected throughout the summer.