Pavement drinking boom in Sheffield as bars battle to replace lost income

Bar Kelham has reopened after lockdown with a special licence allowing it to put chairs outside.

Owners Gavin and Sonya Harrison aim to have several tables on the pavement on Green Lane as a way to replace revenue lost due to lockdown and social distancing measures inside.

They were one of 31 firms to apply for a special pavement cafe licence from Sheffield City Council, allowing them to put seating outside before the end of a 28-day consultation period.

Elsewhere, pubs like The Stags Head and The Greystones owned by Thornbridge have put picnic tables on their car parks.

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The Harrisons, who took over Bar Kelham in September, said they planned to rope off their table and had been told to leave 1,100mm of pavement free for people to get past.

Simon Walkden, chief operating officer at Thornbridge Brewery, said all the new seating was on their own premises and not subject to the pavement licence scheme.

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A Sheffield City Council spokeswoman said it had launched on June 29 and came with several rules.

She added: “The scheme was devised in response to the challenges faced by businesses due to Covid-19.

“All applications are subject to a 28-day consultation period before a licence can be granted, which is still being undertaken on all of the applications received.

“However, businesses are able to trade with a pavement café during this period if they abide by the conditions of the scheme, which include having a plan to manage and restrict attendance and collect the details of customers, in line with current Government guidance.”

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All businesses can apply, including those who that want to use seating for non-hospitality uses, such as a waiting area, she added.

The temporary scheme will last until December 2020 and no planning permission is required.

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