Outdoor drinking and dining space has become one of the most commercially valuable parts of a pub or restaurant. Since 2020, the hospitality sector across Ireland and Northern Ireland has invested heavily in outdoor space — and the venues that got it right early are now reaping the rewards.
A temporary gazebo or a handful of patio heaters gets you through the summer. A proper permanent or semi-permanent stretch canopy gives you something different: a covered outdoor room that works all year.
Seasonal hire vs. semi-permanent vs. permanent
There are three ways we work with hospitality venues:
Seasonal hire (April–October). We install the canopy at the start of the season, it stays up through the summer, and we take it down and store it at the end. Good for venues that don't want the infrastructure commitment, or that have seasonal licensing restrictions.
Semi-permanent. The canopy stays up for a defined period — typically one to three years. We do a more substantial install, usually with weighted or concreted anchor posts. Lower ongoing cost than yearly seasonal hire once it's in place.
Permanent. Engineered for year-round use, with fixed anchorage and consideration for snow loading, higher wind speeds, and drainage. Best for venues investing in the outdoor space as a core part of the offering.
Most of our bar and restaurant clients start with a seasonal hire, see the commercial return, and convert to semi-permanent or permanent within two or three years.
What you get with a covered outdoor space
The numbers vary by venue, but the pattern is consistent: a properly covered outdoor space doesn't just add covers — it extends the hours and the seasons in which those covers are usable.
A beer garden that's unusable six months a year because of rain becomes viable year-round under a canopy. Tables that empty out when it drizzles stay full. Staff who normally bring smokers inside stay dry and outside. The covered space becomes a self-contained environment rather than a gamble on the weather.
Planning and licensing
In Northern Ireland and the Republic, extending an outdoor drinking space may require planning permission or notification, depending on the scale of the structure and your existing licensing conditions. We're not planning consultants, but we've done enough of these installs to help you think through what's likely to be needed.
Permanent structures typically require more planning consideration than temporary or seasonal ones. If in doubt, talk to your local council early — before you've committed to a design.
What it looks like
The most common setup for a bar or restaurant is a single stretch tent spanning the outdoor terrace, with drop-down sides that can be opened in good weather and closed when it rains. LED uplighters along the perimeter, festoon lighting overhead.
The effect is a covered terrace that feels designed rather than functional — like the tent belongs there, which it does.
Getting started
If you're thinking about a covered outdoor space for your venue, the best starting point is a conversation. Tell us what you're working with — the space, the rough numbers, the season — and we'll tell you what's realistic. No hard sell, no obligation.
We work across Northern Ireland and Ireland and are familiar with the licensing and planning landscape in both jurisdictions.