Town in the market for outdoor dining

Plans to convert part of Sleaford Market Place into an alfresco dining area took shape this week and the sun came out to enjoy it.
Tiamo open for alfresco dining in Sleaford Market Place. Owner Sam Paulou EMN-200713-134910001Tiamo open for alfresco dining in Sleaford Market Place. Owner Sam Paulou EMN-200713-134910001
Tiamo open for alfresco dining in Sleaford Market Place. Owner Sam Paulou EMN-200713-134910001

Tiamo, El Toro and the Market Place Café have all been licenced to set out tables and chairs on the spur of the Market Place between the old Sessions House and the Bristol Water Fountain, with each one having its own designated, rented space.

The process for the three Market Place businesses was well underway before the lockdown was put in place and their new licences took effect just days after pubs, cafes and restaurants were able to open again, in a Covid-secure manner.

As part of this, the Government is promoting wider use of pavements and outdoor spaces to enable more hospitality trades to extend their outdoor capacity for enhanced ventilation and greater social distancing.

The attractive outdoor dining area is also designed to boost footfall of the local visitor economy and eventually link in with the Heart of Sleaford project opposite, where a new cinema is planned on land linking the market place to Money’s Yard.

Planters, tables and chairs were laid out last week. Tiamo was the first to set out tables fully in accordance with social distancing, planning and licencing permissions. El Toro and the Market Place Café aim to follow suit later in the month.

Rain hampered the first day of opening on Thursday, but Sam Pavlou of Tiamo said the weekend had been “absolutely fantastic”.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” she said. “We had our customers supporting us, the atmosphere was there. On Saturday we sat the outside area twice over, it was so busy. I class myself as extremely lucky to have that outside area, as inside we have gone from 17 to nine tables under restrictions.”

“Beforehand I felt apprehensive as I didn’t know what the mood of customers would be, but they have shown common sense,” said Sam.

The other two businesses are due to open towards the end of the month, with a grand launch weekend on August 1.

Sam welcomed news of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s offer for businesses to sign up to an Eat Out To Help Out scheme, with the government paying for half diner’s meals on Mondays to Wednesdays in August.

Sam said: “It has been a very tough few months and we still have a lot of people who are very cautious and wary about venturing out, yet we have staff to pay and produce to buy.”

She was unsure whether it would be enough to convince people. Saturday also saw them launch their Italian gelato ice cream stand.

Leader of NKDC Leader Richard Wright said this was the fulfilment of a long held aspiration of the council to promote a vibrant town centre and extend the evening economy.

“Tiamo should be congratulated for their vision, showing confidence in the town and pioneering a fresh approach which introduces new opportunities and experiences for patrons,” he said.

In line with regulations, each business is required to define its zone clearly, leaving room for pedestrian access. Tiamo is looking at ways to provide greater access to the Bristol Water Fountain and give more room to designated walkways across the Market Place.

Chairman of the Town Council Anthony Brand had expressed some concerns about the amount of space taken up and lack of walkway through the area.

He said: “None of us had information it would be like this. The Market Cafe has put tables out but not taken over an area such as this.

“It seems a large area which was open to the public and a Right of Way has been captured and no longer available.

“I have checked the planning application and included are the plan, heritage statement and decision. It is difficult to reconcile what is said there in regard to ‘pop up’ with what we now see on the ground. The messages I am getting is that with this area now excluding and restricting access a further application should have been made.

“As an NKDC Councillor I have no awareness about the scheme even though I had raised concerns about what would happen over six months ago.”

Fellow town councillor Linda Edwards-Shea had nothing against the idea of alfresco dining and said residents were in favour.

She said: “Residents are concerned about the loss of public right of way across that land and especially the cordoning off of the rear of the water fountain.”

She added: “If NKDC can provide safe access to the market and does what it can to protect the market and shoppers then I think the al fresco dining will attract more footfall, especially if the restaurants are open during the day. Furthermore I believe the market place would be even more attractive if Lincolnshire County Council provides a safe crossing for pedestrians from the Bristol Arcade to the market place.

“I hope the al fresco dining area and the market will be able to trade side by side, each bringing much needed footfall to the other, without impacting public rights.”