Have Christmas Markets Influenced The Use Of Outside Seating In Winter?
With the temperature dropping, clusters of street food stalls and festive decorations have popped up all over the place, transforming our everyday spaces from mundane to magical.
Brimming with Christmas cheer, winter markets play a crucial role in our holiday celebrations. But more importantly, for the longest time, these were the only places where you would see large groups of people eating and drinking outside at this time of year. Not anymore, though!
While the UK isn’t blessed with the warm balmy temperatures that make alfresco-style dining so appealing to Brits holidaying abroad, it seems that is no longer stopping people from embracing the great outdoors.
What Has Caused Outside Winter Dining To Become More Popular?
Determined to hold onto the newfound taste of freedom and fresh air introduced by the lockdown's rules of outside-only gatherings, customers are the driving force behind a pivotal change in the hospitality industry.
So, what initially began as a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic has seen restaurants, pubs, and cafes open up to offer outdoor seating areas all year round - long gone are the tarp-covered benches and closed parasols!
The benefit of this, of course, is that instead of closing up shop for several months of the year (which was the norm for many businesses) or blocking off access to outdoor seating, those willing to utilise their outdoor space throughout winter can increase their capacity and, therefore, increase profits.
From the customer's point of view, open-air hospitality venues provide an alternative option to traditional dining. Plus, with businesses putting a lot of effort into creating unique and welcoming outside spaces, with help from designers, customers are becoming more excited by the prospect of eating and drinking outdoors. Talk about a win-win!
Have Christmas Markets Influenced The Use Of Outside Seating?
The short answer is: Yes - absolutely!
Since Christmas markets were our only real experience of open-air winter dining up until 2020, it would be fair to say that they were, in fact, the blueprint for modern designs.
You only have to take a quick look at the quirky and unusual outdoor decor and seating arrangements to spot the festive inspiration behind them. Igloo pods, anyone?
A Chance To Experience Different Cultures
In addition to drawing inspiration from winter markets, many of the designs we put together are based on different cultures around the world.
Scandinavia, for example, is renowned for its harsh winters (not unlike the UK), and their iconic use of different textures and neutral tones can be merged to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Including popular cultural elements as part of your interior or exterior design is key to making street food pop-up stalls/market units feel more authentic and memorable for customers.
How Do You Make A Cosy Outdoor Seating Area For Winter?
Even with the growing demand for outdoor winter seating areas, which has led to an increase in requests for us designers, we're finding that most discussions about design for the hospitality sector still centre around styles for the spring and summer months.
So, here's what we recommend:
● Blankets - From furry throws to chunky-knit blankets; soft furnishings add feelings of cosiness and literal warmth to any space.
● Warm Lighting - Nothing creates ambience quite the way lighting does! Inspired by that warm Christmas glow we all know and love, fairy lights, hanging lanterns, candles and string bulbs are eye-catching features.
● Heaters - Thank goodness for patio heaters. When the weather is at its worst, these will heat your customers up in no time - they'll never want to leave!
● Fires - Fire Pits are a winter staple, and thanks to bioethanol fire pits, you can now enjoy the sound of crackling flames without worrying about fumes, mess or damaging the environment.
● Pop-Up/Permanent Pods - Weather-proof seating areas provide customers with their own private bubble. Literally. Designed to resemble igloos, snow globes or even cubes, these futuristic pods keep in the heat and offer a sense of intimacy.
