Patio season is here and making your outdoor dining a more inclusive space can help you attract more guests and boost the bottom line. Patios make great spaces for families because it’s a space where spills can be easier to clean up, restaurant volume can get loud, and there tends to be more distraction with passers-by to keep little ones occupied.
Restaurants looking to create family-friendly patio need to consider what families need to enjoy their outdoor dining experience for a space that can be enjoyed by everyone.
- Design plays a key role in whether families find your space appealing. Is there enough space between the tables for a stroller to fit and to be stored? You may want to create an area for “stroller parking” to keep the patio accessible and clear for your staff and guests.
- Furniture is also important. Set-ups that include bistro tables may not be conducive to little guests, highchairs, or booster seats. If you have high-top tables, think about offering some regular tables that are available for families with little kids. Also, choose fabrics and material that are easy to clean when dirty fingerprints or spills happen.
- Keeping kids busy is a full-time job for parents, so help out if you can. Typical activities like colouring sheets and crayons could blow away or melt, so you may want to get creative with activities like giant games or chalk if there’s room, or offering a complimentary “quick” app that can arrive within minutes to keep kids engaged and at the table.
- Thinking about including the whole family? 45 per cent of diners want to be able to bring their pets to their favourite restaurants, so it may be worth including man’s best friend in your patio plan. Section off an area, offer bowls of water, keep treats on hand, and have a strategy for picking up messes if you are adding pets to your patio guests. Be sure to advertise that pets are welcome to help attract guests wanting to dine with their dogs.
- Adding a separate entrance and exit for your patio can help families and pets better access your outdoor space. Leave room for a swinging gate or door, provide signage to let people know not to go through the restaurant, and remind hosts to monitor lineups and traffic jams.
Summertime is a great time for families to enjoy each other’s company with outdoor dining, and operators who take a thoughtful approach to design and execution could see higher cheques and more traffic from families this season.
