Following the announcement that hospitality businesses will reopen next week, leading safety barrier experts are urging them to ensure that they have suitable barriers in place to protect customers while they eat and drink outdoors.
The Government has stated that outdoor areas at cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and social clubs will be allowed to reopen, including for takeaway alcohol, on April 12.
Hardstaff Barriers, the leading manufacturer and supplier of roadside safety and hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers, is recommending that hospitality businesses install approved concrete or steel barriers to create designated ‘alfresco dining’ areas.
The barrier systems not only provide clear outdoor seating areas and aid social distancing, but the crash-tested systems also provide physical protection from passing traffic.
Many new outdoor seating areas will be created close to roads and tramlines, particularly in urban areas, so the need for robust safety barriers is even greater in towns and cities.
In New York in 2020, a car collided with an unprotected outdoor dining area in New York City, injuring eight people.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for Hardstaff’ Barriers’ range of products to improve safety, provide social distancing areas and create safe dining zones has increased significantly.
Pubs, food shops, and even schools, have all enlisted the company’s support over recent months.
As trusted experts in the industry, Hardstaff Barriers is the appointed contractor for the UK Government’s National Barrier Asset (NBA) framework.
As part of this important role, the company has installed security barriers at numerous high-profile events and at significant sites, providing robust and reliable protection against vehicle-borne attacks.
The barriers can be produced in a bespoke design, in a variety of colours and with a logo applied, if required, for a more professional look.
To create more privacy for diners or to conceal certain views, fencing or toppers can also be placed on top of the barriers, further improving the experience for customers.
Last year, the government introduced a streamlined, more affordable process for pavement licence applications, allowing more eating and drinking establishments than ever to secure a licence to place furniture on the highway.
Dave Todd, Director of Hardstaff Barriers, said: “Many people are looking forward to visiting pubs or cafes again and they should be able to enjoy their eagerly-awaited trip safely.
“Our barriers, which are crash-rated to EN1317, act as a visual reminder of the need to comply with social distancing requirements and provide physical protection from nearby traffic.”
“ Many people are looking forward to visiting pubs or cafes again and they should be able to enjoy their eagerly-awaited trip safely.”Dave Todd, Director of Hardstaff Barriers
